<![CDATA[Model Anok Yai responds to Carine Roitfeld’s ‘insensitive’ Instagram photo]]> https://usagag.com/2020/06/09/model-anok-yai-responds-to-carine-roitfelds-insensitive-instagram-photo/ Tue, 09 Jun 2020 19:03:22 +0000 hourly 1 https://usagag.com Model Anok Yai responds to Carine Roitfeld’s ‘insensitive’ Instagram photo One week after Carine Roitfeld faced backlash for posting an Instagram photo with black model Anok Yai — along with the comment, “Anok is not a black woman, she is my friend” — the catwalker is speaking out about the incident.

“A lot of people have asked what my reaction was to an insensitive post from a friend of mine on Instagram last week,” 22-year-old Yai wrote in an essay for O, The Oprah Magazine published Tuesday.

“Of course, it was jarring — and it was just one of many similar microaggressions I’ve experienced during my time in fashion. But the bigger point I’d like to focus on is that the fashion industry needs to become educated…and fast.”

Elsewhere in her piece, the Egyptian-born beauty, who is of South Sudanese descent and in 2018 became the second black model to ever open a Prada show, recalls other racist encounters backstage at Fashion Week and on the set of photoshoots.

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“Black models should not have to teach working professionals how to deal with our hair and skin day in and day out,” Yai wrote. “Educate yourself and come prepared. It’s your job. The world is changing right before our very eyes, and we won’t be tolerant of intolerance any longer.”

Roitfeld, 65, shared her post early last week, as brands and influencers flooded the platform with support for the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of George Floyd’s death. After social media users slammed it as “tone-deaf,” “deeply offensive” and “self-serving,” Roitfeld deleted the post, and later issued a public apology.

“My intent was to express love and support for my dear friend, Anok Yai – not to deafen my message,” she wrote on Thursday. “I realize that I caused further pain and hurt to the very community that I was looking to support.”

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Continued the CR Fashion Book founder, “I am learning from this experience and will continue to use my platform and voice to create opportunities for change. Anok you are a beautiful, strong and talented Black woman and I meant absolutely no harm. I only meant to send a message of support to you and your family.”

“I vow to continue to focus my efforts and stand up to these injustices to support and further create opportunities that amplify the black community and their voices in the fight against systemic racism,” Roitfeld concluded.

Yai seemed to accept the editor’s apology, commenting under her post with a “prayer hands” emoji and two black hearts.

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