I am making this petition to fight for the women assaulted by Ed Razek and grossly neglected by Victoria’s Secret. From sexual assault allegations to unauthorized usage of models' images to retaliation for rebuffing advances, Victoria's Secret has been in hot water since the New York Times article hit the streets. 

Ed Razek, previous boss of the Victoria’s Secret Angels and Victoria’s Secret fashion shows, has been accused of multiple accounts of sexual harassment. 

One instance was at the 2018 fashion show. Bella Hadid was being measured for underwear and Razek said, “Forget the panties”. Not much later, he asked if the TV network would allow Hadid to walk “down the runway with those perfect titties.” According to three different people, Razek placed his hand on another model’s underwear-clad crotch. An employee reportedly complained to the human resources department about Razek’s behavior and presented a document of more than 12 instances where Razek was making demeaning comments and inappropriately touching women. Nothing was done. 

Razek also asked other models to sit on his lap, their numbers, and private dinners. Andi Muise was one of these models. After two years of walking the Victoria’s Secret Runaway show, Razek asked her out to dinner where he persisted to try and kiss Muise although she denied him. In addition, he sent her intimate emails, even telling her they should move in together in his house in Turks and Caicos. When Razek asked Muise to come to have dinner with him at his New York home, she ignored his offer. For the first time in 4 years, Andi Muise had not been picked for Victoria’s Secret 2008 fashion show. 

Another concern is how Victoria’s Secret allowed Jeffrey Epstein to lure women in by posing as a recruiter for Victoria’s Secret models. In case you didn’t know, Epstein had an international sex trafficking ring and was a sex offender. These instances led to at least two assaults on young women in the name of Victoria’s Secret. The gross negligence of Razek’s behavior, as well as lack of supervision by Victoria’s secret over matters that allowed men such as Epstein to take advantage of, is truly alarming. 

Over the years, the culture has changed to make a safe haven for women to speak out against powerful men in the industry such as Harvey Weinstein. It seems that there is no such safe haven for Victoria’s Secret models. According to the New York Times, most women who spoke out did so at the expense of their jobs. In fact, Mr. Razek often reminded models that their careers were in his hands, according to models and current and former executives who heard his remarks.  In reality, these women are stuck, speaking out anonymously in fear of losing their reputations and future modeling opportunities or not speaking at all. I have the privilege to be in a position where I can speak out fearlessly. 

Ed Razek needs to learn that he is not untouchable. He is a prime example of a man with too much power, making women submit out of fear or that it’s just not worth losing their job for. In order for these women to get justice and have a safe space to speak, the public needs to do everything in their power to ensure that these women do not stand alone. Victoria’s Secret has expressed "regret" and is working to do better. Regret is not enough. What Ed Razek did and what those in charge of Victoria’s Secret allowed to happen is unacceptable. And it is unacceptable until we have justice and accountability for these victims. 100 models and industry supporters are trying to get Victoria's Secret to adopt the RESPECT program, a Model Alliance program that establishes a binding agreement to protect the safety of everyone on the job, including models. 

Please if you are reading this, do everything in your power to make this known. Send this petition to your friends, family. Share it on social media. Send fan mail and tweets to celebrities asking them to support the RESPECT program. I promise you can make a change.  

Make sure that in 2020, no women will stand alone ever again. 

Please read this New York Times article for more information: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/01/business/victorias-secret-razek-harassment.html

And this link for more information on the Model Alliance and the RESPECT program: https://modelalliance.org/2020/letter-to-victorias-secret/letter-to-victorias-secret