The style world has rallied behind editor and stylist Gabriella Karefa-Johnson following a barrage of insults by Kanye West.
Karefa-Johnson, inventive director of Storage journal and affiliate style editor of Vogue, criticised the Donda rapper for his inclusion of T-shirts with the slogan “White Lives Matter” in his Yeezy SZN 9 runway present on Monday (3 October).
In response, West posted two now-deleted pictures of Karefa-Johnson and mocked her look, including that she was “not a style individual”.
Since then, main style figures have stepped in to defend the editor, with many hitting out at West for singling out and “bullying” her.
In a press release issued on Instagram, Vogue stated the journal “stands” with Karefa-Johnson and accused West of “bullying” her.
The assertion additionally revealed that the editor and West have met to speak concerning the public spat.
It learn: “[Karefa-Johnson] was personally focused and bullied. It’s unacceptable. Now greater than ever, voices like hers are wanted and in a personal assembly with Ye as we speak she as soon as once more spoke her fact in a method she felt finest, on her phrases.”
It comes after West additionally wrote in a put up that he and Karefa-Johnson had a dialog on Tuesday night and attended a dinner with different celebrities collectively.
He claimed that Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour had their dialogue filmed by Elvis director Baz Luhrmann and that the pair “took pics and I used to be instructed to not put up them”.
West has acquired widespread backlash for his runway present, which featured Black fashions strolling whereas carrying the “White Lives Matter” T-shirts.
Amid his assaults on Karefa-Johnson, who branded the present “indefensible”, fashions Gigi Hadid and Linda Evangelista, in addition to actors Jaden Smith and Jodie Turner-Smith have spoken out.
Hadid described West as a “disgraceful man” for mocking the famend editor, whereas Evangelista posted a single black sq. to her Instagram profile that reads: “Black Lives Matter.”
In the meantime, Smith, who was in attendance on the present however walked out, stated in a now-deleted tweet: “I can’t stand behind what Kanye’s saying, he doesn’t have the complete assist of the youth.”
Turner-Smith had harsher phrases for the rapper, branding the stunt as “pretend and disgusting”.
The With out Regret star, who can also be a mannequin, stated in an Instagram Story: “I assumed he stated he was attempting to convey folks collectively??? Pretend and disgusting and embarrassing.
“Please go contact some grass and cease sharing your poisonous ideas,” she added.
Different figures within the business who’ve spoken out embody photographer Quil Lemons and Self-importance Truthful’s style director Nicole Martine Chapoteau.
Lemons stated “Black folks in style… bend over backwards to attempt to assist [West]”, whereas Chapoteau commented that West was “clearly intimidated by [Karefa-Johnson’s] intelligence and brilliance”.
