Spiegel interview
Joop apologizes after making misogynistic statements
The fashion designer Wolfgang Joop apologized for misogynistic statements in an interview. Photo: Gregor Fischer / dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
Of course, he rejects violence and the abuse of power against women and models, emphasizes fashion designer Wolfgang Joop. His statements in an interview had previously irritated many.
Fashion designer Wolfgang Joop apologized after criticizing his comments about the earlier handling of models.
“My statement regarding sin in the fashion world was misplaced in context,” wrote the 76-year-old on Instagram and Facebook. For the choice of words in the conversation with the news magazine “Der Spiegel” he wanted to apologize to all those who were annoyed or hurt, wrote the Potsdam in the article published on Sunday evening. It is important to him to emphasize that he “deeply rejects any form of abuse of power and violence then and now”.
“And if a girl complained …”
In the interview, Joop said that he cried when Karl Lagerfeld died because an era had come to an end and “this world was so wonderfully frivolous and frigid. Everything was for sale. The agencies gave the keys to the rooms of the models, who did not bring that much money, to rich men. And when a girl complained, they said: We can do without you too. “
To the reply that this was terrible, Joop replied: «Yes. But the fashion world is only really beautiful if there is also sin. ” In his apology, Joop now stated that he had pointed out with drastic words “the corruption and frivolity of the industry in the seventies and eighties”. Their component was “unfortunately also the disrespectful and abusive treatment of models”.
“The things that I am talking about have just happened”
Joop also said of “Bild”: “The models wanted to earn money and belong. It was better to have contact with rich men than to have to sit at the supermarket checkout. The things I am talking about just happened. I do not support these incidents! “
For around four years there has been a greater sensitivity in the public debate, especially with regard to the abuse of power in professional contexts. In October 2017, revelations about American film producer Harvey Weinstein kicked off the #MeToo debate on sexual assault and sexism. Cases have also been made public in other areas – such as the music industry or sports.