Victoria’s Secret models are calling for a change.
Over 100 of the brand’s “Angels” signed a petition urging the company to protect its talent from sexual harassment and abuse.
In an open letter to CEO John Mehas, Christy Turlington Burns, Milla Jovovich and more models kickstarted the RESPECT Program hoping to promote safety and reduce mistreatment in the workplace.
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The proposal will see the company’s employees, agents, vendors, photographers and other contractors be required to follow a strict code of conduct and if misconduct does take place, they will be able to file a confidential complaint which will be investigated and any abusers will face “appropriate consequences.”
“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,” the letter read.
The new program comes just days after The New York Times published a report about Jeffrey Epstein, who, according to the outlet, is a registered sex offender, was recently arrested for alleged sex trafficking and told young women he was a talent scout for Victoria’s Secret.
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“These stories are gut-wrenching and hit close to home for many of us who have encountered these kinds of abuses that are too often tolerated in our industry,” the letter continues. “We stand with the courageous women who have come forward and shared their stories, despite fears of retaliation or harm to their careers. It breaks our hearts to keep hearing these stories. We can and must do better. It is time for RESPECT.”
Read the full letter here.
