10 June 2020

L‘Oréal rehire transgender model Munroe Bergdorf in diversity role three years after firing her for white supremacy comments

L'Oréal’s first transgender model Munroe Bergdorf has been rehired by L'Oréal Paris after calling the company’s Black Lives Matter post a form of ’gaslighting’ and dubbing them ’hypocritical’.

The 32 year-old was fired from the cosmetic company three years ago over a Facebook post about white supremacy and racism, but will now reunite with the skincare brand in a bid to improve their diversity policies after publicly shaming them last week.

In 2017 she wrote: "Honestly I don't have energy to talk about the racial violence of white people any more. Yes ALL white people.

"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. From micro-aggressions to terrorism, you guys built the blueprint for this s***."

At the time her comments were deemed ’at odds’ with the brand’s values and her contract was terminated.

However, she has now reunited with the company following her response to their post regarding the Black Lives Matter movement.

In the post on June 1 the company said it ’stands in solidarity with the Black community, and against injustice of any kind’.

“You dropped me from a campaign in 2017 and threw me to the wolves for speaking out about racism and white supremacy,” responded Bergdorf last Tuesday. 

"I said just yesterday that it would only be a matter of time before RACIST AF brands saw a window of PR opportunity to jump on the bandwagon ... I'm disgusted and writing this in floods of tears and shaking."

Since the model’s public callout, the company has announced the introduction of its own UK Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Board, on which Bergdorf will work in a consultancy role.

Delphine Viguier, president of L’Oreal Paris, also issued a statement of apology to the model.

She said: "Munroe felt silenced by a brand, L’Oréal Paris, that had the power to amplify her voice.

“While we both agree today that negative labels should not be used to define all individuals in any group, I understand much better the pain and trauma that were behind Munroe’s words back then and the urgency she felt to speak in defence of the Black community against systemic racism.”

She added that she regretted the ’lack of support’ shown to Bergdorf saying that the company ’should have done more to create a conversation for change’.

Viguier also revealed that L'Oréal would donate €25,000 (£22,000) to Mermaids Gender and €25,000 to UK Black Pride - two causes that support social justice and are close to Bergdorf.

The history-making model added that she hoped the reunion could prove that it is possible to overcome differences and that she remains ’hopeful’ they can work together in the battle against discrimination.

"Over the past three years I realised my responsibility as an activist is to help us unite as people, regardless of our identity."

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