Teen Vogue racism controversy: The past week witnessed journalist Alexi McCammond, the incoming editor-in-chief of magazine Teen Vogue, come under severe fire with many employees accusing her of racism. The matter concerns some (now-deleted) tweets she made ten years ago that mocked Asian people.
Staff at Teen Vogue have issued a statement against the hiring of McCammond as a top editor, with many others in the journalism industry condemning the magazine's parent company Condé Nast for this "questionable hire."
McCammond, in response, shared a statement of her own, apologising, I hope you'll read this note from me to the @TeenVogue community, staff, readers, writers, photographers, content creators, and friends: https://t.co/ROoovqQHLX pic.twitter.com/85T8XBJULn
— Alexi McCammond (@alexi) March 11, 2021 "This has been one of the hardest weeks of my life... I am so sorry to have used such hurtful and inexcusable language."
On March 18, McCammond announced on social media that she had decided to "part ways" with the publication amid the furore. In a Twitter statement, she Hey there: I’ve decided to part ways with Condé Nast. Here is my statement about why - pic.twitter.com/YmnHVtZSce
— Alexi McCammond (@alexi) March 18, 2021 "My past tweets have overshadowed the work I’ve done to highlight the people and issues that I care about — issues that Teen Vogue has worked tirelessly to share with the world."
What the Teen Vogue racism controversy is all about
1. Over the weekend, Condé Nast announced the hiring of American journalist Alexi McCammond to the post of Teen Vogue's editor-in-chief. McCammond was formerly a political reporter for Axios. She is to begin in her new role from March 24.
2. As news of her hiring broke, a series of anti-Asian tweets she had written in 2011 surfaced on social media. "Now Googling how to not wake up with swollen, Asian eyes," one tweet read. "Outdone by Asian #whatsnew," read another.
See the tweets at the centre of the Teen Vogue racism controversy below:
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Source: Instagram
3. McCammond has previously been berated for these tweets in 2019 as well, which was when she deleted them and issued her first apology. "I am deeply sorry to anyone I offended. I have since deleted those tweets as they do not reflect my views or who I am today," she had reportedly said then.
4. This time around, the tweets re-surfaced once more with news of her Teen Vogue hiring. Notable fashion editor Diana Tsui wrote of the controversy on Instagram, "Teen Vogue has positioned itself as a champion of inclusiveness and empowerment. Is this truly a leader who also embodies these beliefs?"
5. In the midst of growing backlash against McCammond, more than 20 staffers at Teen Vogue came out to address the concerns "in light of her past racist and homophobic tweets." The statement also brought notice to this "moment of historically high anti-Asian violence and amid the on-going struggles of the LGBTQ community."
6. This staff statement prompted an official one from Teen Vogue one day later, undersigned also by McCammond herself, which said, "As a team, we've had frank, thoughtful, and real conversations over the last days about inclusivity and the way forward. Those will only continue as we grow from here." Condé Nast also defended its hiring of McCammond, saying she had already apologised for her tweets in the past.
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Source: Teen Vogue
7. On March 11, in response to the Teen Vogue racism controversy, McCammond finally spoke in an individual capacity through a lengthy statement on Twitter, addressed to the magazine's "community, staff, readers, writers, photographers, content creators, and friends."
She wrote, "What an awful introduction we’ve had to each other this week... I’ve apologized for my past racist and homophobic tweets and will reiterate that there’s no excuse for perpetuating those awful stereotypes in any way. I’m also asking you to hold me accountable as we embark on this journey together. This dialogue is only beginning and I feel eternally grateful to continue with all of you."
8. McCammond announces March 18 that she will step down from her post so as to prevent the "overshadowing of work" at the magazine. "I have decided to part ways... I wish the talented team at Teen Vogue the absolute best moving forward... I will be rooting for them... so many stories left to be told, especially those about marginalised communities and the issues affecting them."
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