Just a few days after Munroe Bergdorf was announced as the face of L’Oréal’s new campaign, the transgender model has been sacked.
In a Facebook post, Bergdorf said: “Honestly I don’t have energy to talk about the racial violence of white people any more. Yes ALL white people.”
This morning, L’Oréal confirmed that they would no longer work with Bergdorf, as her comments were not in line with their values as a company.
In a statement, the company said: ‘L’Oréal supports diversity and tolerance towards all people irrespective of their race, background, gender and religion.
“The L’Oréal Paris True Match campaign is a representation of these values and we are proud of the diversity of the Ambassadors who represent this campaign.
“We believe that the recent comments by Munroe Bergdorf are at odds with those values, and as such we have taken the decision to end the partnership with her.”
“L’Oréal remains committed to celebrating diversity and breaking down barriers in beauty.”
In a statement on Facebook, Bergdorf defended her comments, saying the Daily Mail (who originally published an article with Bergdorf’s comments) took her words out of context:
“First up, let’s put my words in context, as the Daily Mail failed to do so.”
“This ‘rant’ was a direct response to the violence of WHITE SUPREMACISTS in Charlottesville. It was not written this week.”
She continued to explain:
“When I stated that “all white people are racist”, I was addressing that fact that western society as a whole, is a SYSTEM rooted in white supremacy – designed to benefit, prioritise and protect white people before anyone of any other race.”
In reference to the campaign that L’Oréal booked her for in the first place, Bergdorf told GayTimes that it was “ironic” to be involved in a beauty campaign that is meant to “stand for diversity”.
“If L’Oréal Paris truly wants to offer empowerment to underrepresented women, then they need to acknowledge the reason why these women are underrepresented within the industry in the first place.”
Bergdorf’s sacking from the campaign has led to mostly outrage on social media, but some have condemned the model for categorising and singling out white people:
Thanks for ruining it with your ignorance. “All white people are racist” really? No, it’s official tho, hate runs deep everywhere in society
— Emily? (@itssoec) August 31, 2017
As a white woman I’m sorry I cant change the past but i can change the future! Please don’t call ME racist!!
— wishing on a ? (@nessienorth71) September 1, 2017
L’Oréal champions profit and is a company that’s chosen to silence a PoC who’s dared to speak out about racism and her own lived experience https://t.co/pEe8bBNkZZ
— olly ? (@alexander_olly) September 1, 2017
how can you claim to champion diversity and then fire her for speaking out against systemic racism??
— Hayley (@HixxiDustButt) September 1, 2017
Nothing Munroe Bergdorf said was wrong, or even inappropriate. All white people benefit from racism and white supremacy, this is not news
— ? (@thelonelyldnr) September 1, 2017
