Current:Home > MyJoan Smalls calls out alleged racist remark from senior manager at modeling agency -FutureWise Finance
Joan Smalls calls out alleged racist remark from senior manager at modeling agency
View
Date:2025-04-14 21:50:00
Joan Smalls is speaking out against "hate and discrimination" in the fashion industry.
The Puerto Rican model, 36, in an Instagram post on Thursday said she is "deeply troubled and offended by" a racist remark that was allegedly made against her by a senior manager at IMG Models.
Smalls said the comment was "unacceptable and has no place in professional interactions." She called for a "full investigation" into the incident and "appropriate disciplinary action."
USA TODAY has reached out to Smalls and IMG Models for comment.
Smalls told followers this was not the first time a racist comment has been directed her way. She wrote that she is still haunted by an incident at the beginning of her career where an agent allegedly called her a racial slur and said, "Karl Lagerfeld would never book a (expletive) for his campaign."
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
"I can no longer tolerate staying silent about the hate and discrimination within an industry that claims to be inclusive and open-minded, and instead only discussing it privately with friends and family," she wrote. "I refuse to be a victim of hate speech and allow such harmful behaviors to continue to persist with such audacity in private.
Supermodel Joan Smallspledges wages to Black Lives Matter, calls out fashion industry's 'insulting' silence
"Racism and discrimination have no justification, and I will not tolerate such abusive language targeted at my ethnicity and intelligence."
The model, who made history in 2011 by becoming the first Latina face of Estee Lauder's global marketing campaign, previously spoke out against a lack of diversity in the fashion industry when she appeared on the cover of Elle in 2013.
'Elle' cover girl Joan Smallsurges diversity
"People hide behind the word aesthetic," she told the magazine. "They say, 'Well, it's just that designer's aesthetic.' But when you see 18 seasons in a row and not one single model outside a certain skin color ... ? There are people in the industry who are advocates, who support diversity. And there are people who do not. I don't get it. Beauty is universal. These doors have to open."
In June 2020, Smalls pledged half of her remaining wages for the year to supporting Black Lives Matter, and she slammed the industry for its response to that summer's racial justice protests.
"This industry that profits from our Black and Brown bodies, our culture for constant inspiration, our music and our images for the visuals, have tiptoed around the issues," she said. "You're part of the cycle that perpetuates these conscious behaviors. You have continually let us down with your insensitivity and tone-deafness, and the damage control apologies of, 'we will do better.'"
Smalls received support in the comments of her Instagram post on Thursday, with Ricky Martin writing, "Speak up and be loud Joan. ENOUGH! Teach them a lesson."
Linda Evangelista also called the alleged incident "unacceptable," while Gabrielle Union wrote, "Proud of you and we stand beside you!!! Let's see what accountability and consequences look like."
Contributing: Ann Oldenburg, Bryan Alexander
veryGood! (178)
Related
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- New York City moves to suspend ‘right to shelter’ as migrant influx continues
- Maryland Supreme Court to hear arguments on Syed case
- 2023 MLB playoffs: Phillies reach NLDS as every wild-card series ends in sweep
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- Man arrested hours after rape and killing of 5-year-old girl in Kansas
- Stock market today: Asian shares rise, buoyed by Wall Street rally from bonds and oil prices
- Pakistani army says 2 people were killed when a Taliban guard opened fire at a border crossing
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Savannah Chrisley Reveals Dad Todd's Ironic Teaching Job in Prison
Ranking
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- New wildfire on Spain’s Tenerife island forces 3,000 evacuations. Area suffered major summer fire
- Israeli police arrest suspects for spitting near Christian pilgrims and churches in Jerusalem
- 'Surprise encounter': Hunter shoots, kills grizzly bear in self-defense in Idaho
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- Horoscopes Today, October 4, 2023
- 2 Palestinian militants killed in gunfight with Israeli troops in West Bank raid
- Duane Keffe D Davis, suspect charged in Tupac Shakur's murder, makes 1st court appearance
Recommendation
Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
Kevin Spacey Hospitalized After His Entire Left Arm Goes Numb
Voter rolls are becoming the new battleground over secure elections as amateur sleuths hunt fraud
Dear Life Kit: Your most petty social dilemmas, answered
Man can't find second winning lottery ticket, sues over $394 million jackpot, lawsuit says
A Nepal town imposes a lockdown and beefs up security to prevent clashes between Hindus and Muslims
Wall Street ends higher Wednesday after a bad Tuesday for the S&P 500 and Dow
Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan running for House speaker as GOP race to replace McCarthy kicks off