Naomi Campbell slams Russian designer over her 'n****s in Paris' note - as the fashion insider who shared a snap of the racist card is DROPPED by the brand she co-founded
- Russian fashion designer Ulyana Sergeenko wrote a note saying 'n****s in Paris'
- She sent the card to fashion entrepreneur Miroslava Duma on arriving in the city
- Duma, 32, shared a picture of the note on Instagram, prompting a backlash
- She has now been dropped from the board of parenting brand The Tot
Supermodel Naomi Campbell has called out a Russian designer who used a racial slur in a note to a fellow fashion insider.
Ulyana Sergeenko, 36, came under fire over the card to Russian fashion entrepreneur Miroslava Duma which was addressed: 'To my n****s in Paris'.
Duma, 32, later shared a picture of the card on Instagram, prompting a widespread public backlash and forcing both women to issue a public apology.
Naomi Campbell, 47, is among those who have slammed Sergeenko over the racist post, while Duma has been removed from the board of Dallas-based parenting brand The Tot, which she co-founded.
Controversy: Designer Ulyana Sergeenko (left) is facing backlash for sending lifestyle blogger Miroslava Duma (right) a card that she addressed: 'To my n****s in Paris'
Backlash: Duma shared a snap of the offensive note on Instagram, prompting outrage
An Instagram post published by The Tot read: 'We at The Tot are deeply shocked by the offensive and racist post shared last night by Miroslava Duma during Paris Fashion Week. In no way do those actions or statements reflect the values of The Tot.
'Cultural reference or not, racism in any form is unacceptable, regardless of whether it’s accidental or unintentional. Words are powerful and we know those words hurt. Effective immediately, we have removed Miroslava Duma from the board of our company.'
Meanwhile Naomi Campbell shared an image of the offensive note on Instagram along with the warning: 'This better not be real'.
Sergeenko, who showed her couture collection in Paris on Tuesday, sent the note to her friend along with a bouquet of flowers. She explained it was a reference to a song by Kanye West and Jay-Z of the same name, which she claimed was one of her 'favourites'.
Offensive: The designer admitted to casually calling her friend the N-word 'sometimes.' Sergeenko, right, and Duma, left, are pictured at Paris Fashion Week in 201
Excuse? In her Instagram apology, Sergeenko explained that Kanye is her 'favorite musician'
Too late? Duma also apologized for sharing the 'utterly offensive' language in her 'regrettable Instagram story'
Shortly after the offensive post started to make headlines, the designer wrote a lengthy apology on Instagram: 'I was born in a small town in East Kazakhstan, my daughter is half Armenian, I have never divided people on white or black,' she wrote. 'Kanye West is one of my favorite musicians, and NP is one of my most favorite songs.'
The designer went on to admit that she and her friends do call each other the N-word from time to time, but she insists they are just trying to be like the song's rappers.
'And yes, we call each other the N word sometimes when we want to believe that we are just as cool as these guys who sing it,' she continued. 'I am deeply sorry to everyone whom I might have offended.
Unacceptable: Fashion photographer Ed Kavishe shared a screenshot of Sergeenko's note while slamming the fashion insiders for their use of the racial slur
'Mira is a dear friend and even the fact that she so naively posted my private card to her on her social means that we meant nothing wrong and didn't realize the consequences.
'I have certainly learned my lesson and I am grateful for it. There is enough anger in the world out there, please, can we stop it here?' she ended the apology.
The response prompted further outrage from fashion industry players.
Outcry: Fashion insiders called out the designer over the post - and Duma for sharing it online
Fashion photographer Ed Kavishe shared a screenshot of Sergeenko's note to Duma on Instagram, writing: 'What planet would you think this was acceptable language and behavior? You don't get to use these words ever.'
He later posted Sergeenko's apology, adding: 'Here is Apology Number one from @ulyanasergeenko "Kanye West is one of my favorite Musicians" #SoImnotaRacist - Not sure what's more pathetic the original post or this pile of vomit apology.'
Callia A. Hargove, a social media editor at Teen Vogue, tweeted: 'This DISGUSTS me. To see Mira post something on IG so casually using this racial slur, and then have Ulyana defend the usage with such a bs excuse makes my blood boil.
'So tired of "fashion girls" thinking that listening to one rap song gives them the right.'
'In light of Ulyana's soggy apology': Writer Marjon Carlos insisted 'there have to be repercussions for behavior like this'
Fashion blogger Bryanboy also took to Twitter to slam Sergeenko's apology.
'So Lena Dunham definitely wrote Ulyana’s apology letter! Of course she’s not Racist, Kanye West is her favorite musician!' he wrote, later tweeting: 'I love rich Caucasian woman privilege! I mean.'
Later on Tuesday, Duma released her own apology on her Instagram page.
'I sincerely apologize for my regrettable Instagram story that went out,' she wrote. 'The phrase references is from a Kanye West and Jay-Z song by the same title. The word is utterly offensive, and I regret promoting it and am very sorry.
'I deeply respect people from all backgrounds and detest racism or discrimination of any kind,' she added. 'My organizations and I are committed to our core values of inclusion and diversity.'
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