Victoria’s Secret ‘culture of sexism’
Models accuse lingerie giant of misogyny and harassment
LINGERIE giant Victoria’s Secret has been accused of exploiting women after a bombshell investigation revealed a culture of misogyny, bullying and harassment at the company.
Campaigners last night called on customers to boycott the firm after it was alleged executives turned a blind eye to problems despite a litany of complaints by staff.
Models claimed that ex-chief marketing officer Ed Razek, 71, would encourage them to sit on his lap or ask for phone numbers during casting sessions. He also allegedly made lewd and inappropriate comments about their bodies.
It is claimed American catwalk star Bella Hadid, 23, was told by Razek in 2018 to ‘forget the panties’ as she was being measured for lingerie, according to The New York Times. Referring to her breasts, he reportedly questioned whether Miss Hadid would be able to walk ‘down the runway with those perfect t*****s’.
Victoria’s Secret, which has 24 stores in the UK and generates worldwide sales of £5billion a year, has launched the careers of several supermodels, but has come under growing criticism in recent years over its overtly sexualised marketing. Billionaire owner Les Wexner has also been accused of ignoring disgraced paedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s predatory behaviour.
Epstein managed the tycoon’s personal fortune. It was claimed the paedophile used his association to invite aspiring models to fake auditions, with at least two ending in assault.
The New York Times cites interviews with more than 30 current and former executives, models, and contractors. Mr Wexner and Mr Razek are accused of demeaning women on multiple occa sions. The US newspaper reports the Victoria’s Secret HR department at one stage had a dossier containing more than a dozen allegations.
Mr Wexner was reportedly asked at a meeting at the company’s Ohio headquarters what he thought about the retail industry embracing different body types. The tycoon is alleged to have answered: ‘Nobody goes to a plastic surgeon and says, “Make me fat”.’ Casey Crowe Taylor, a former PR employee at the company, said: ‘This abuse was just laughed off and accepted as normal. It was almost like brainwashing. And anyone who tried to do anything about it wasn’t just ignored – they were punished.’
Between 1995 and 2006, Epstein is said to have used the brand to recruit women by lying to aspiring models that he worked for Victoria’s Secret. One of Epstein’s alleged victims told a court: ‘I had spent all of my savings getting Victoria’s Secret lingerie to prepare for what I thought would be my audition. But instead it seemed like a casting call for prostitution. I felt like I was in Hell.’
Former model Alyssa Miller described Mr Razek’s behaviour as ‘toxic masculinity’, adding his attitude was: ‘I am the holder of the power. I can make you or break you.’ Last night, Tory MP Caroline Nokes, chairman of the Commons women and equalities committee, said: ‘Sadly it doesn’t surprise me that this has been going on at Victoria’s Secret – and it’s a culture that pervades across the fashion industry. It’s high time fashion got its house in order.’
Sarah Green, of the End Violence Against Women coalition, said: ‘The era of normalised sexual harassment and sexism at work is over. Consumers reject it and investors need to get on board and accelerate the stop to it too.’
Nic Mainwood, of the Centre for Women’s Justice, said: ‘It is no real surprise that a company that profits from the objectification of women has a culture of sexual harassment.’
Mr Wexner has not yet commented, but Mr Razek told The New York Times: ‘The accusations are categorically untrue.’