L’Oreal, a French cosmetics company that sells skin whitening creams, has ended their partnership with transgender model Munroe Bergdorf following comments she made in a post to Facebook addressing racism and white supremacy. Bergdorf, who is black, noted that the comments were in response to the attacks in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Daily Mail reported that Bergdorf wrote:
"Honestly I don’t have energy to talk about the racial violence of white people any more. Yes ALL white people. 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. From micro-aggressions to terrorism, you guys built the blueprint for this shit. 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 fucked at the hands of your ancestors and your heads that remain buried in the sand with hands over your ears."
L'Oreal took to Twitter to share the announcement that they were cutting ties with Bergdorf.
Bergdorf, who is L'Oreal's first transgender model in the UK, responded to the news of her firing via a Facebook post and called for a boycott of the company.
"Sit still and smile in a beauty campaign 'championing diversity'. But don't actually speak about the fact that lack of diversity is due to racism. Or speak about the origins of racism. It'll cost you your job".
Bergdorf further discussed the hypocrisy of L'Oreal's decision. Read her comments in full below.
