Anna Wintour, a fellow power broker and longtime ally of embattled mogul Harvey Weinstein, has spoken out on his “appalling and unacceptable” behavior.
The creative director of Conde Nast and mythical editor of Vogue occupies the same rarified air as Weinstein in social circles, boardrooms and pop culture. Or, now, the rarified air Weinstein used to occupy.
“Behavior like this is appalling and unacceptable,” Wintour told the New York Times on Friday.
“I feel horrible about what these women have experienced and admire their bravery in coming forward. My heart goes out to them, as well as to Georgina and the children,” she continued.
Georgina Chapman is Weinstein’s estranged wife, who left the mogul on Wednesday in wake of explosive rape and sexual harassment allegations by A-list actresses like Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie as well as former staffers and aspiring talent. Chapman is the co-designer of luxury brand Marchesa, a red carpet mainstay thanks Weinstein and Wintour’s influence.
As a pair, Wintour and Weinstein have raised significant funds for the Democratic Party and elevated the stars of his films to the sacred cover of her magazine. In 2015, Weinstein escorted Wintour and her daughter Bee Shaffer to the Academy Awards where she sat at his side donning her signature oversized sunglasses.
The Times called the fashion industry “the third pillar of Mr. Weinstein’s power base, an industry in which he made major investments going back more than 15 years.”
Her condemnation is nothing short of a metaphorical eviction notice, and an effective confirmation that Weinstein is no longer accepted into polite society.
True to form, Wintour brought the matter back to her role as an industry leader.
“We all have a role to play in creating safe environments where everyone can be free to work without fear,” she said.