Edie Campbell slams fashion industry for model abuse in open letter

Edie Campbell has written an open letter on abuse in the fashion industry.

In the candid letter, penned for WWD, the 27-year-old model addresses the abusive treatment of models in the fashion industry, writing that it is so rife that many have come to see it “as simply a part of the job.”

Campbell’s revelations come after a slew of high-profile fashion publications, including Vogue and Elle, allegedly cut ties with photographer Terry Richardson, after allegations against him resurfaced.

The established jockey and history of art graduate accused people in the industry of turning a “blind eye” to rumours of abuse.

“We all know that it spreads far, far further than one man,” she writes.

Campbell criticised the media for focusing exclusively on claims made against Richardson, insisting that the problem transcends the actions of just one photographer.

“Media coverage has been frustratingly limited to Richardson,” she said.

Activist Cameron Russell has been using her Instagram account to share the stories of sexual abuse victims, however, Campbell stresses that the perpetrators mentioned in these anecdotes are not all Richardson, nor are all of the victims necessarily female.

“There has been scant mention of the sexual abuse suffered by male models in the mainstream media, despite the fact that many men bravely told their stories through Cameron’s Instagram,” she explained.

Despite having never personally suffered from sexual abuse within the fashion industry herself, Campbell insists that the problem is widespread within the industry and believes it is not being adequately addressed.

“We operate within a culture that is too accepting of abuse, in all of its manifestations,” she writes.

“This can be the ritual humiliation of models, belittling of assistants, power plays and screaming fits.

We have come to see this as simply a part of the job.”