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Did racism play a part in former ‘Paper’ editor’s resignation?
Paper magazine staff lash out against CEO over racial problems
After a war-of-words at Paper magazine between staffers and CEO Tom Florio over the treatment of its recently departed culture editor Michael Love Michael — Michael told Page Six that the hip, progressive publication is completely different behind-the-scenes. “I watched white counterparts, who had not been there as long as me move up to senior …
After a war-of-words at Paper magazine between staffers and CEO Tom Florio over the treatment of its recently departed culture editor Michael Love Michael — Michael told Page Six that the hip, progressive publication is completely different behind-the-scenes.
“I watched white counterparts, who had not been there as long as me move up to senior level positions and get raises much faster than me,” Michael, who is black goes by the pronoun “they/them,” said. “I would advocate for myself and there was a series of checks and balances where I was pushed into a corner.”
Michael resigned from Paper (famed for its Kim Kardashian “break the Internet” cover) and called Florio out after the former Vogue publisher sent a company email sympathizing with the social unrest around the country.
Michael responded on Twitter that the email was “performative at best and hypocritical at worst.” Florio publicly reprimanded Michael, but was then skewered by the editorial staff and back-pedaled.
“The fact that none of you who know I’m leaving, for example, are in any way trying to learn more about exactly why I’m leaving… only reinforces why I’m leaving. I’m not valued,” Michael wrote.
Florio responded: “To insinuate that this was a race issue is disingenuous.”
Michael told Page Six: “His gut response to react defensively and dismissively is racist. You’re telling a black person who’s telling you what they experience that they are incorrect.”
Florio reached out after the backlash. “He sent me an email… asking me to do the work for him by asking me to unpack why everything he said is wrong, and why people are having this experience at this company. I’ve been doing that, and I don’t have to do that for him anymore,” Michael said.
Florio commented: “I am genuinely sorry… I’m making it a top priority now to ensure that we do make Paper a place where other employees who are Black or people of color can grow and thrive.”
