Anna Wintour accused of abuse of power and racism before leaving Vogue editor-in-chief

The news that Anna Wintour left her position as editor-in-chief of American Vogue magazine after 37 years on June 27 and announced that she would begin searching for a successor surprised the fashion world.

Anna Wintour's influence goes far beyond the confines of a magazine, whether in a positive or negative way - Photo: AFP

Although introduced as a generational transition, for those who have endured Anna Wintour's harshness, this is like a faint ray of light that has just flashed after the darkness that has weighed down for decades.

Anna Wintour's departure did not look like a peaceful retirement, but rather a calculated move to both hold on to power and cleverly create an image of making way for the next generation.

In other words, Variety reported that Anna Wintour will continue to hold two other important positions: Global Chief Content Officer of Condé Nast Group and Global Editorial Director of Vogue magazine system.

Thus, she still holds the role of content coordinator for a series of major publications such as Vanity Fair, GQ, AD, Wired, Bon Appétit, Tatler, Allure, Condé Nast Traveler,... except The New Yorker, currently run by David Remnick.

The familiar image of Anna Wintour with her blonde bob hair and powerful black glasses - Photo: AFP

Anna Wintour's legacy in fashion is built on ruthless coldness, tight control and uncompromising ambition, according to African News Agency.

More than just a powerful editor, she is also synonymous with fear. Accusations of bullying, racism and insensitivity have followed her for years. Anna Wintour has shattered dreams, cut careers and dismissed people with chilling coldness.

The Devil Wears Prada and the obsession named Anna Wintour

Anna Wintour - who is said to be the inspiration for the character Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada - has announced that she will create a new editorial position at American Vogue.

“I want to support a generation of passionate young editors to enter the profession with their own ideas,” she told her staff.

However, true to her usual style, Anna Wintour also confirmed that she will still hold many of her current roles - clearly showing that she has no intention of stepping down.

“I need not add that I will continue to be Vogue's tennis and theatre editor forever,” she declared.

The once-famous brand The Devil Wears Prada (2006) will have a sequel after 18 years - Photo: Netflix

Anna Wintour's toxic presence became so haunting that when director David Frankel made The Devil Wears Prada , the entire fashion industry trembled in fear.

Designers refused to work with the film crew for fear of angering Anna Wintour. Screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna revealed that she had a hard time finding people in the industry willing to share: "Everyone is afraid of Anna Wintour and Vogue magazine, no one wants to be blacklisted."

That fear was so great that the crew had difficulty getting permission to shoot at iconic locations like the Metropolitan Museum of Art or Bryant Park in New York.

Even costume designer Patricia Field struggled to borrow outfits, as the entire industry feared Anna Wintour's powerful shadow.

Accused of racism, insulting staff

In 2020, Anna Wintour was accused of promoting a “thin, rich, white” beauty standard, not only on the pages of Vogue but also behind the scenes.

Many journalists of color who worked under her have reported a toxic working environment at Vogue , racism, cultural appropriation, and constant verbal abuse.

"Fashion is already harsh, but at Vogue , whenever someone reviews a photo shoot and says, 'This is Vogue,' it means: thin, rich, and white. How can you survive in an environment like that?" - shared a former employee of color.

The black basketball player on the cover of Vogue in April 2008 reminded many people of the character King Kong - Photo: Reddit

A typical example is the April 2008 cover of Vogue featuring famous basketball player Lebron James and supermodel Gisele Bundchen.

Along with the praise, this magazine cover has faced a wave of criticism for its racist connotations, when depicting LeBron James as a dangerous black man. Many opinions said that James's pose makes him look no different from the character King Kong holding a white girl in his arms.

Anna Wintour and André Leon Talley were once the most powerful couple in the fashion industry. One was the cold editor-in-chief of Vogue, the other was a style icon full of personality, always pursuing revolutionary ideas in fashion - Photo: WireImage

Anna Wintour's former colleague André Leon Talley - one of the most prominent black figures in the fashion industry - was abruptly removed from Vogue 's inner circle without warning, ending a decades-long friendship.

In his memoir The Chiffon Trenches , André Leon Talley wrote that Anna Wintour was “incapable of basic human kindness” and claimed that she had abandoned him because he was “too old, too fat, and out of fashion.”

Graydon Carter, former editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair , once frankly commented: “Anna Wintour is immune to anyone who is not famous and powerful - the faces that regularly appear on Vogue's pages. She ruthlessly turns the most powerful people in the industry into her best friends."

Born and raised in London, Anna Wintour led British Vogue before taking over American Vogue in 1988.

Her departure as editor-in-chief may be a sign of change, but she's clearly not retiring quietly, and may never really disappear from the fashion world .

SHANGHAI

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/anna-wintour-bi-to-lam-dung-quyen-luc-phan-biet-chung-toc-truoc-khi-roi-ghe-tong-bien-tap-vogue-20250628155422743.htm