The Problem with Ed Razek’s Victoria's Secret Statement

By Lorena Caro on November 12, 2018

“Shouldn’t you have transsexuals in the show? No. No, I don’t think we should. Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy. It’s a 42-minute entertainment special” – Ed Razek.

Source: pixabay.xom

Ed Razek, the chief marketing officer of L Brands, shocked everybody with negative comments about anyone who doesn’t fit into the Victoria’s Secret brand image. In an interview for Vogue, he stated, “If you’re asking if we’ve considered putting a transgender model in the [Victoria’s Secret fashion] show or looked at putting a plus-size model in the show, we have. We invented the plus-size model show in what was our sister division, Lane Bryant. Lane Bryant still sells plus-size lingerie, but it sells a specific range, just like every specialty retailer in the world sells a range of clothing. As do we. We market to who we sell to, and we don’t market to the whole world.” This response has provoked many to speak out and criticize Victoria’s Secret’s refusal to become more inclusive in their fashion show and in their brand image.

Razek expressed that the Victoria’s Secret brand will remain the way it has always remained despite the cultural shift in the fashion industry. With the growth of social media, the demand for models that embody more of the general public has greatly increased. People want to see models that reflect what they look like. The decision to remain a conservative brand discriminates against transgender and transsexual people, and anyone else who does not conform to the “fantasy” image the brand strives to portray. The refusal to accept notable candidates based on their gender and sexuality is reflective of an ungrounded belief that trans women cannot fulfill the beauty standard Victoria’s Secret aims to reflect.

“Everybody keeps talking about Rihanna’s show. If we had done Rihanna’s show, we would be accused of pandering without question,” said Razek to Vogue. Razek and Monica Mitro, the executive vice president of public relations at Victoria’s Secret, spent much of the interview jabbing other notable fashion companies, such as Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty show, while at the same time bragging about their own brand.

Source: pixbay.com

Patronizing other companies to elevate their own agenda is a shady move, to say the least. People such as Phillip Picardi, the editor-in-chief of Out Magazine, have taken to social media to express their concerns over “trans-phobic casting practices” on social media.

Razek has since sent out a public apology on Twitter in an attempt to address his remarks, but to no avail. He is still receiving negative backlash.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format