Controversies in the online media can come and go in the time it takes to eat a meal. Others may even last a week. In a week’s time, Victoria’s Secret has twice been torn apart in by the media and it’s commenters. This is what you may have missed:
1. Victoria’s Secret’s «The Perfect ‘Body'» campaign launches.
2. Viewers are appalled by yet another shameless disregard for the pro-body-diversity conversation that’s been occurring for, well, ever. Petition demanding an apology gains over 15,000 signatures.
3. Victoria’s Secret reacts. Re-launches campaign with new tagline.
Also, posts Instagram video wherein Sara Sampaio explains how she too is not fully satisfied with her body. You know, because she’s a human person.
4. Instagram commenters and Jezebel writer Erin Gloria Ryan voice their dissatisfaction with the ineptitude of Victoria’s Secret’s PR efforts. Instagram comments include, «That’s the best yall could come up with?» Ryan’s article, entitled «Helpful Victoria’s Secret Reminder: Even Models Hate Themselves,» reads,
The video is packaged as though it’s supposed to encourage women to accept and love themselves, but it’s really just one model talking about how another model is so totally sexy in an unobtainable way.
5. Sara Sampaio, posts emotive response to Erin’s article on her Facebook fan page.
Lessons learned? Erin Ryan is a model-hater who just doesn’t understand the fashion industry? No. Sara Sampaio has nothing to complain about and overreacted? No. Victoria’s Secret’s PR team messed up? Yes.
Instead of issuing an apology (or committing to more inclusive casting choices), they simply refused to engage with the real issue at hand. The video says that all women are dissatisfied with their bodies, not that the company is complicit in perpetuating a cultural expectation that encourages women to be dissatisfied with their bodies.
