L’oreal’s first transgender model, Munroe Bergdorf, has been been dropped by L’oreal after being heavily criticized for a lengthy Facebook rant discussing racism. “Honestly I don’t have energy to talk about the racial violence of white people any more. Yes ALL white people,” she said on a now deleted post. “Because most of ya’ll don’t even realise or refuse to acknowledge that your existence, privilege and success as a race is built on the backs, blood and death of people of colour. Your entire existence is drenched in racism… Come see me when you realise that racism isn’t learned, it’s inherited and consciously or unconsciously passed down through privilege.” She was accused of reverse racism, ironically.
“Because most of ya’ll don’t even realise or refuse to acknowledge that your existence, privilege and success as a race is built on the backs, blood and death of people of colour. Your entire existence is drenched in racism,” she said. “From micro-aggressions to terrorism, you guys built the blueprint for this s***. Come see me when you realise that racism isn’t learned, it’s inherited and consciously or unconsciously passed down through privilege. Once white people begin to admit that their race is the most violent and oppressive force of nature on Earth… then we can talk. Until then stay acting shocked about how the world continues to stay about how the world continues to stay f***** at the hands of your ancestors and your heads that remain buried in the sand with hands over your ears.”
Just on Wednesday, Bergdorf was announced as the official ambassador of the French brand for their #YoursTruly True Match campaign but now it seems that her career is in jeopardy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJUjO-wPrdk
A huge reason behind the explosive reaction is in particular because of DailyMail who she accused of taking her rant out of context. She reiterated that her rant was in context to the recent neo-nazi/white supremacist rally in Charlottesville. She also defended her statement regarding all white people as racist on a new Facebook statement by saying, “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. Unknowingly, white people are SOCIALISED to be racist from birth onwards. It is not something genetic. No one is born racist.”
https://www.facebook.com/munroebergdorf/posts/1574703922551083
According to Metro, the company confirmed today that ties between the model and the company have officially been terminated. “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.”
