[tr?id=1586530151593576&ev=PageView&noscript=1] [tr?id=259124211325942&ev=PageView&noscript=1] IFRAME: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-TLN5TWN Google Tag Manager * Out.com * Fashion * Entertainment * Lifestyle * Travel & Nightlife * Out Exclusives * News & Opinion * Advocate * Pride * Out Traveler * Plus * Email Newsletter * Subscribe * Subscriber Services * Contact * Staff * Career Opportunities * Advertise With Us * Privacy Policy * Terms of Use * Legal Notice * © 2020 Pride Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved Wilson Cruz Subscribe To Out Magazine Print > Digital > Give a gift • Renew (Menu) OUT OUT * Search Search form Search _______________ Search * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Tumblr * Mail * Editor's Pick * Fashion * OUT100 * television * News * Film Scroll To Top Fashion The Victoria’s Secret Exec Who Made Transphobic Comments Has Retired Ed Razek The news comes at a time of change for the company. By Mikelle Street August 06 2019 10:38 AM EDT Share on Twitter Share on Facebook As Victoria’s Secret, one of the largest American lingerie brands, goes through a moment of major changes for the company, Ed Razek, the brand’s chief marketing officer, has retired. Razek, who has largely helped to shape the brand’s hypersexual image, drew the brand major backlash after having made transphobic and other exclusionary comments in the past. “With the exception of Les, I’ve been with L Brands longer than anyone,” Razek wrote in a note to employees according to Bloomberg. Les Wexner is the chief executive officer of L Brands Inc, the parent company of Victoria’s Secret. “It was a tough conversation to have because, as some of you must know, we have shared so much together for so many years.” Over that tenure Razek championed the annual blockbuster fashion show, and helped stock it full with his Angels. But in 2018, Razek made headlines when he defended the brand’s past of not casting transgender models in the show. "If you’re asking if we’ve considered putting a transgender model in the show or looked at putting a plus-size model in the show, we have," he told Vogue. As for specifically “transsexxuals,” as he called them: "I don’t think we should. Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy. It’s a 42-minute entertainment special. That’s what it is. It is the only one of its kind in the world, and any other fashion brand in the world would take it in a minute, including the competitors that are carping at us. And they carp at us because we’re the leader. They don’t talk about each other. I accept that." The backlash was swift with many speaking out on social media about the transphobia in the statement. Razek then apologized saying the brand would “absolutely” cast a transgender model. And now they have, with one Valentina Sampaio, but not in the show. In May, a memo leaked saying that the brand would not televise the fashion show on network television. This came after the viewership had dropped by roughly two thirds since 2001. At the time, it was reported that the brand would introduce a “new kind of event” on different platforms. That idea foreshadowed Shania Shaik revealing to The Daily Telegraph that the show wouldn’t take place at all this year. There’s no telling where the brand will go from here, but it’s clear that some big changes are afoot. RELATED | Valentina Sampaio is Victoria Secret's First Trans Model in History Tags: Fashion Ricky Martin From our Sponsors READER COMMENTS () Latest News Chae' Meshia Simms and Skylar Heath are 39th and 40th Trans Americans Violently Killed in 2020 Crime Kimberly Fial is the 41st Trans American Violently Killed in 2020. December 11 2020 2:55 PM Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Javicia Leslie as Batwoman Television Javicia Leslie Gets New Batmobile In 'Batwoman' Season 2 Trailer December 11 2020 1:54 PM Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Bhutan One Step Closer to Legalizing Same-Sex Sexual Relationships News Bhutan Is Set to Legalize Gay Sex, Joins Growing Wave in Asia December 11 2020 1:23 PM Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Justin Simeon and Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian Television Lando, Pansexual 'Star Wars' Star, Gets Disney+ Series December 11 2020 12:46 PM Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Tulsi Gabbard Attacks Trans Women, Claims to Be LGBTQ+ Ally Politics Tulsi Gabbard Attacks Trans Women, Claims to Be LGBTQ+ Ally December 11 2020 12:34 PM Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Indya Moore as Santa Activism Indya Moore Is Making a Merry Christmas for Trans Youth — You Can Help December 11 2020 12:03 PM Share on Twitter Share on Facebook elton john Celebs Watch Elton John and Sons Ring in Christmas in Cutest TikTok Video December 11 2020 11:23 AM Share on Twitter Share on Facebook 1