The fashion world has broken its silence on the mounting claims of sexual harassment and assault perpetuated by movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.
Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine, called the alleged behavior of the producer ‘appalling and unacceptable’.
‘Behavior like this is appalling and unacceptable. I feel horrible about what these women have experienced and admire their bravery in coming forward,’ she said in a statement.
‘My heart goes out to them, as well as to Georgina and the children. We all have a role to play in creating safe environments where everyone can be free to work without fear.’
Weinstein, 65, and Wintour, 67, have had a close relationship for years and have sponsored several political fundraisers together.
Stars of several Weinstein films have appeared on the cover of Vogue – often wearing Marchesa, the label co-founded by his wife, Georgina Chapman, 41.
Anna Wintour (left), editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine, has spoken out against Harvey Weinstein (right), calling the alleged behavior of the producer ‘appalling and unacceptable’ amid mounting claims of sexual harassment and assault
The comments from Wintour about Weinstein (pictured together, November 2013) are one of the few coming from the fashion world as several designers and retailers have declined to condemn the movie mogul
The comments from Wintour about Weinstein are one of the few coming from the fashion world.
The only other notable designer to speak out is Donna Karan, who told DailyMail.com last week in a red carpet interview that Weinstein and his wife are ‘wonderful people’ and questioned whether women around the world are asking for ‘trouble’ because of how they dress.
In a statement released early Tuesday morning, Karan said her comments were ‘out of context’ and apologized to ‘anyone I offended’ and victims of abuse.
The silence has been ‘striking’, according to Steven Kolb, the chief executive of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, particularly because of Weinstein’s ties to the fashion industry.
The Weinstein Company, from which Weinstein was fired from on Sunday, has funded many fashion-related projects and elaborate costume films
He was the executive producer of ‘Project Runway’ and, in 2006, he revived the Halston clothing line along with shoe designer Tamara Mellon and celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe.
Most notably, his wife, Georgina Chapman, co-founded the Marchesa label in 2004. Several stars have worn the designer on the red carpet and reports have emerged claiming that Weinstein threatened stars of his movies who refused to do so.
Stars of several Weinstein films have appeared on the cover of Vogue – often wearing Marchesa, the label co-founded by his wife, Georgina Chapman (Pictured, Wintour, left, and Weinstein in November 2010)
The only other notable designer to speak out is Donna Karan (pictured, right, with Weinstein in August 2017) who told DailyMail.com last week in a red carpet interview that Weinstein and his wife are ‘wonderful people’ and questioned whether women around the world are asking for ‘troubl’ because of how they dress
Actress Felicity Huffman confirmed that Weinstein threatened to pull publicity funding for her 2005 film Transamerica if she didn’t wear Marchesa gowns on the red carpet.
Earlier this week, amid mounting allegations of Weinstein’s sexual harassment and sexual assault, The Hollywood Reporter reported that he threatened to sabotage the careers of A-list stars, including Huffman’s, if they didn’t wear his wife’s fashion label, Marchesa.
‘Yeah, it’s true,’ Huffman, who has been married to fellow actor William H Macy for 20 years, told TooFab at the Eva Longoria Foundation Gala in Los Angeles on Thursday evening.
Earlier this week, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Weinstein threatened to sabotage the careers of several A-list stars if they didn’t wear his wife’s fashion label, Marchesa (Georgina Chapman, left, and Anna Wintour in July 2014)
None of the major retailers who sell Marchesa have spoken up, either condemning Weinstein or supporting Chapman (pictured, right, with Weinstein in May 2015)
The actress obliged Weinstein’s demands by wearing a flowing white Marchesa gown for her high-profile appearance at the Golden Globes where she was nominated for both her film and her role on Desperate Housewives.
Huffman, who took home a Golden Globe for Transamerica, also wore a black, strapless Marchesa gown to the New York screening of the film that year.
On Wednesday, the brand postponed a planned preview of its spring 2018 collection to an unspecified ‘later date’.