TYPO: Joan Smalls Calls Out Racism and Discrimination at IMG Models
IG CAPTION: I’m a proud, multiracial human being.
I am deeply troubled and offended by the racist remark made against me by a “Senior Manager” @imgmodels. Their comment about me being a ‘dumb Puerto Rican’ is unacceptable and has no place in professional interactions.
This isn’t the first time a racist comment has been hurled in my direction. At the beginning of my career another Parisian agent called me the N word. And I quote “ Karl Lagerfeld would never book a N** for his campaign”…Because I confirmed the Chanel campaign.
Those words still haunt me.
I can no longer tolerate staying silent about the hate and discrimination within an industry that claims to be inclusive and open-minded, and instead only discussing it privately with friends and family.
I refuse to be a victim of hate speech and allow such harmful behaviors to continue to persist with such audacity in private.
Meet the industry’s so-called game-changers, who are allegedly breaking down barriers and redefining inclusivity – or at least that’s what their publicists keep telling us.
Racism and discrimination have no justification, and I will not tolerate such abusive language targeted at my ethnicity and intelligence.
This type of bigoted behavior is hurtful and has no place in our society. I am calling for a full investigation into this incident and expect appropriate disciplinary action to be taken against the agent responsible.
All people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their race or background. I will not be silent about this injustice and hope this serves as a wake-up call for better training and accountability around issues of diversity and inclusion. When does this injustice stop?
2 Comments
TYPO: Joan Smalls Calls Out Racism and Discrimination at IMG Models
IG CAPTION: I’m a proud, multiracial human being.
I am deeply troubled and offended by the racist remark made against me by a “Senior Manager” @imgmodels. Their comment about me being a ‘dumb Puerto Rican’ is unacceptable and has no place in professional interactions.
This isn’t the first time a racist comment has been hurled in my direction. At the beginning of my career another Parisian agent called me the N word. And I quote “ Karl Lagerfeld would never book a N** for his campaign”…Because I confirmed the Chanel campaign.
Those words still haunt me.
I can no longer tolerate staying silent about the hate and discrimination within an industry that claims to be inclusive and open-minded, and instead only discussing it privately with friends and family.
I refuse to be a victim of hate speech and allow such harmful behaviors to continue to persist with such audacity in private.
Meet the industry’s so-called game-changers, who are allegedly breaking down barriers and redefining inclusivity – or at least that’s what their publicists keep telling us.
Racism and discrimination have no justification, and I will not tolerate such abusive language targeted at my ethnicity and intelligence.
This type of bigoted behavior is hurtful and has no place in our society. I am calling for a full investigation into this incident and expect appropriate disciplinary action to be taken against the agent responsible.
All people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their race or background. I will not be silent about this injustice and hope this serves as a wake-up call for better training and accountability around issues of diversity and inclusion. When does this injustice stop?
Call them out Joan!!!