00:00Victoria's Secret CMO Ed Razek has been under fire following his remarks about why the brand's
00:04annual fashion show does not include transgender or plus-size models. During an interview for Vogue,
00:10Razek used the word transsexual, which is deemed outdated and offensive, and said that trans and
00:14plus-size women do not exemplify the fantasy that Victoria's Secret is trying to sell.
00:19The exec also revealed that he and the V.S. team have previously thought of casting trans and
00:23plus-size models, but ultimately decided against doing so. Razek said, in part,
00:27we market to who we sell to and we don't market to the whole world. We attempted to do a television
00:32special for plus-sizes in 2000. No one had any interest in it. Still don't. The backlash to such
00:37comments were immediate, with many notable LGBTQ figures, including trans models and plus-size
00:42stars taking to social media to share their disappointment in Victoria's Secret.
00:46Internet personalities and model Gigi Gorgias and Carmen Carrera were among the first trans women to
00:50speak out against Razek, encouraging a boycott of all V.S. products. Gorgias revealed on her
00:56Instagram account that she was devastated and disgusted, while Carrera wrote,
01:00I wish certain people would see beyond viewing me as just a transsexual. I am way more than that.
01:05Model Tess Holliday tweeted on Saturday,
01:07Who needs V.S. anyway? They never supported plus ladies and now they are trying to diss
01:11my trans sisters? Hell nah. Kiss my fat ass Victoria's Secret.
01:15And Kendall Jenner, who walked the V.S. runway for a fourth time on Thursday and is the daughter of
01:19Caitlyn Jenner, who is transgender, responded to Razek's remarks by posting an Instagram story that read,
01:24celebrate trans women. Meanwhile, on Friday night, Victoria's Secret shared Razek's apology for his
01:29comments via Twitter. The CMO failed to acknowledge plus-size models in his apology, instead focusing
01:34on his remarks about transgender models.
01:37My remark regarding the inclusion of transgender models in the Victoria's Secret fashion show
01:42came across as insensitive, he said in a statement.
01:45I apologize. To be clear, we would absolutely cast a transgender model for the show.
01:50We've had transgender models come to castings and, like many others, they didn't make it.
01:55But it was never about gender. I admire and respect their journey to embrace who they really are.
02:00Despite the apology, the Model Alliance issued a statement in response to Razek's comments
02:04expressing their disappointment and calling on Victoria's Secret to join its RESPECT program,
02:09a legally binding agreement created to ensure safe work environments for models.
02:13To read more on this story, head to THR.com.
02:15For The Hollywood Reporter News, I'm Lyndsey Rodrigues.
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