Anna Wintour Apologizes For Lack Of Black Employees: I Take Full Responsibility

Anna Wintour Apologizes For Lack Of Black Employees: I Take Full Responsibility

Anna Wintour is possibly confessing to the mean-girl behavior former Vogue editor Andre Leon Talley spoke of in his memoir. In The Chiffon Trenches, Andre Leon Talley revealed volatile treatment, allegedly at the hands of Anna Wintour, both in employment and in their years-long friendship:

“I have huge emotional and psychological scars from my relationship with this towering and influential woman…there are so many people who have worked for her and have suffered huge emotional scarring…the list is endless…She is immune to anyone other than the powerful and famous people who populate the pages of Vogue. She has mercilessly made her best friends people who are the highest in their chosen fields…My hope is that she will find a way to apologize before I die…Not a day goes by when I do not think of Anna Wintour.”

Andre Leon Talley, Anna Wintour

Anna Wintour has now reportedly apologized in a note sent to her Vogue staff and colleagues last week. In the note (via Page Six), she allegedly admitted to not exerting enough effort to promote equality among Black fashion cohorts at her magazine. She said:

“I want to start by acknowledging your feelings and expressing my empathy towards what so many of you are going through: sadness, hurt, and anger too. I want to say this especially to the Black members of our team — I can only imagine what these days have been like. But I also know that the hurt, and violence, and injustice we’re seeing and talking about have been around for a long time. Recognizing it and doing something about it is overdue. I want to say plainly that I know Vogue has not found enough ways to elevate and give space to Black editors, writers, photographers, designers and other creators. We have made mistakes too, publishing images or stories that have been hurtful or intolerant. I take full responsibility for those mistakes.”

The 70-year-old continued:

“It can’t be easy to be a Black employee at Vogue, and there are too few of you. I know that it is not enough to say we will do better, but we will — and please know that I value your voices and responses as we move forward. I am listening and would like to hear your feedback and your advice if you would like to share either. I am proud of the content we have published on our site over these past few days but I also know that there is much more work to do. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch with me directly. I am arranging ways we can discuss these issues together candidly, but in the meantime, I welcome your thoughts or reactions.”

Anna Wintour reportedly ended the note with this thought:

“This is a historic and heartbreaking moment for our country and it should be a time of listening, reflection, and humility for those of us in positions of privilege and authority. It should also be a time of action and commitments. On a corporate level, work is being done to support organizations in a real way. These actions will be announced as soon as possible.”

What do you think of Anna Wintour’s rumored address to her staff? Were her comments sincere? Let us know in the comments.