L'Oreal drops transgender model for racist comments

news.com.au

2 Sep, 2017 03:08 AM2 mins to read

Transgender model Munroe Bergdorf. Photo / Instagram, munroebergdorf

Transgender model Munroe Bergdorf made history earlier this week when it was announced that she would be the face of a L'Oréal UK campaign.

But after attention was called to her Facebook post on racism following the events in Charlottesville, the cosmetics giant decided to let her go, said news.com.au.

The beauty brand said on Twitter that the comments made by Munroe Bergdorf were "at odds" with its values and had decided to end the campaign with her.

L’Oréal champions diversity. Comments by Munroe Bergdorf are at odds with our values and so we have decided to end our partnership with her.
— L'Oréal Paris UK (@LOrealParisUK) September 1, 2017

The Daily Mail published Bergdorf's Facebook post in which the model said white people must "admit their race is the most violent and oppressive force of nature on Earth."

"Honestly I don't have energy to talk about the racial violence of white people any more.

Yes ALL white people," she reportedly said. "Because most of ya'll don't even realise or refuse to acknowledge that your existence, privilege and success as a race is built on the backs, blood and death of people of colour. Your entire existence is drenched in racism ...
Come see me when you realise that racism isn't learned, it's inherited and consciously or unconsciously passed down through privilege."

View this post on Instagram

Poised to attack // @davidwidart

A post shared by ＭＵＮＲＯＥ (she/they) (@munroebergdorf) on Aug 23, 2017 at 4:24am PDT

Miss Bergdorf, who was born a boy called Ian, works as a DJ and trans activist in addition to her modelling. She began living as a woman at the age of 18 but was prescribed hormones by a doctor only four years ago.

The London-raised campaigner recently spoke of how she hopes to play a part in the changing face of the beauty industry.

View this post on Instagram

The female of the species is more deadly than the male. // 📷 @davidwidart

A post shared by ＭＵＮＲＯＥ (she/they) (@munroebergdorf) on Aug 18, 2017 at 3:10am PDT