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In Open Letter, More Than 100 Models Urge Victoria’s Secret to Take a Stand Against Sexual Harassment in Fashion

A new petition urging Victoria’s Secret to take a stand against acts of sexual harassment and violence has been signed by more than 100 models, many of whom have worked with the brand in the past.

In an open letter written by the Model Alliance and addressed to Victoria’s Secret CEO John Mehas, current and former runway stars call on the company to take a role in remedying sexual harassment, citing “numerous allegations of sexual assault, alleged rape, and sex trafficking of models and aspiring models,” as several photographers associated with the company have been accused of misconduct, plus the links between various L Brands executives—including company head Leslie Wexner—and convicted sex offender and former financier Jeffrey Epstein. (Sara Ziff, the founder of Model Alliance, has written about Epstein in the past.)

It has already been signed by Christy Turlington Burns, Doutzen Kroes, Milla Jovovich, Gemma Ward, Carolyn Murphy, Caitriona Balfe, Karen Elson, among others. Time’s Up has also co-signed.

“In the past few weeks, we have heard numerous allegations of sexual assault, alleged rape, and sex trafficking of models and aspiring models. While these allegations may not have been aimed at Victoria’s Secret directly, it is clear that your company has a crucial role to play in remedying the situation,” the letter reads. “From the headlines about L Brands CEO Leslie Wexner’s close friend and associate, Jeffrey Epstein, to the allegations of sexual misconduct by photographers Timur Emek, David Bellemere, and Greg Kadel, it is deeply disturbing that these men appear to have leveraged their working relationships with Victoria’s Secret to lure and abuse vulnerable girls.”

In the letter, the Model Alliance pointed to the position Victoria’s Secret holds in the industry and its platform as a means to combat abuses in the industry: “We are calling on Victoria’s Secret to take meaningful action to protect its talent and those who aspire to work with the company. Victoria’s Secret has the opportunity to be a leader, to use its power and influence to bring about the changes that are urgently needed in our industry. Every day, fashion brands, publishing companies, and agencies set the norms of what’s acceptable and what’s not in fashion. If Victoria’s Secret were to take a stand against these abuses and commit to meaningful change by joining the RESPECT Program, this would go a long way in helping our industry chart a new path forward.”

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Celebrities Are Posting About Ivanka Trump to Urge Support for a Clean DREAM Act

There’s already been one viral moment for Ivanka Trump this Thanksgiving season—an admittedly ignoble one as Twitter users trolled her brand’s centerpiece idea for the festive holiday meal (the phrase “trash clam” was employed as a descriptor). Today, though, there’s another movement trending—and it has nothing to do with table decorations. Instead, celebrities are taking to Instagram to tag her in a post about the need to pass a clean DREAM Act for immigrant youth.

The DREAM Act is a bill designed to protect undocumented minors who receive legal status through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). The iteration re-introduced this year and up for a vote (it’s been around for years but hasn’t been passed) would give a conditional green card to those who currently receive protection under DACA—unless they don’t pass a background
check or maintain a clean record—and create a mechanism for undocumented children to get green cards, too. In the future, it would form a pathway for them to apply for permanent residency and citizenship, with a set of strict criteria for them to do so.

The “clean” part of passing the DREAM Act involves keeping its passage separate from other bills regarding immigration enforcement or border funding. However—because there is usually a “however” in these situations—the House has to pass a spending bill to fund the government by December 8, and Republican members don’t want a vote about Dreamers wrapped up in it. Instead, they’d like to keep it out of voting until the new year, when they have leverage: DACA as it stands will expire in March, thanks to President Donald Trump. Democrats, though, have said that they’ll keep their votes from a spending bill if DREAM-related legislation isn’t in there.

And that brings us back to these posts. Celebrities whom Ivanka follows are taking to Instagram to ask her to use her influence in the White House to change hearts and minds—presumably including those of her father, who has earned a reputation for switching positions on issues and over whom Ivanka is rumored to have some sway.

“Dear Ivanka,” the post begins. “I see you’re following me on Instagram. This Thanksgiving I would be grateful if you use the influence you have to advocate for a CLEAN Dream Act by December. Every day that passes without a clean Dream Act means anxiety and deportation for immigrant youth. 7,901 youth have already lost DACA and 122 more will use it each day. Thank you and Happy Holidays.”

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