Just last week, Transgender model/activist Munroe Bergdorf was named as one of faces of L’Oréal‘s new True Match campaign, championing diversity. But just three days ago, Bergdorf was fired for speaking out about systematic racism and white supremacy in a (now deleted) post that went viral following UK media outlet The Daily Mail, publishing an article with click bait headline, L’Oréal Transgender Model Says That All White People Are Racist.
It appears that L’Oréal took exception to Bergdorf calling out white supremacy and dropped the model for her comments. Since broadcasting their decision, the Twitter-verse rallied behind Bergdorf to offer their support.
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
https://twitter.com/HixxiDustButt/status/903556801089736705
L'Oréal is hereby cancelled.
Munroe Bergdorf spoke openly about the TRUTH that white supremacy underpins our society. You're all pussios. https://t.co/u21ZjgwGyv— machine gun Kele (@kelechnekoff) September 1, 2017
I'm honestly disgusted, you've pulled her contract because she dared to comment that racism exists? How was anything she said wrong or –
— Titch (@teawithmaria) September 1, 2017
Munroe Bergdorf followed up her original post, with a more in depth explanation of her comments.
During an interview with The Guardian, Bergdorf states that she does not regret her decision to speak out: “I don’t regret what I said,” she says, calmly. “I’m an activist. Being an activist means calling people out, not just saying what everyone else is saying and what everyone else wants to think and upholding the common consensus. L’Oréal knew that when they hired me.”
She also says: “I can wholeheartedly say that the dictionary definition of racism was written a very long time ago and not by a person of colour. It doesn’t allow us to have a conversation about modern-day racism. If you’re not aware of it, then make yourself aware of it. Racism isn’t just calling someone something, it’s a whole system. If you think we live in an equal society, you’re living in a daydream. You need to recognise that there is such a thing as white privilege and you can be homeless and still have white privilege, because you can still have a better chance of getting out of homelessness than a person of colour in the same position.”
Right on! We stand with Munroe Bergdorf!
