Buro 24/7's Miroslava Duma Issues Apology Following Discriminatory Speech Backlash
“I’m as shocked as anyone to be viewing that footage today.”
Founder of Buro 24/7 Miroslava Duma is under fire after a disturbing video of her making discriminatory comments back in 2012 has resurfaced online. Said video went viral on social media following the controversy that Duma and designer Ulyana Sergeenko publicly used the n-word on Instagram. Eventually, the clip was reposted by fashion blogger Bryanboy, who’s denounced by Duma in her speech for his sartorial choices.
In the video, Duma is seen giving a speech in front of a group of students. And when asked about her views on Bryanboy and transgender model Andreja Pejić (formerly Andrej Pejić), her answer was shockingly disappointing and offensive, and deemed by many as homophobic and transphobic. “No, we would never publish someone like Pejić. We have censorship at Buro, we’re very concerned about the beauty and purity of the things we publish,” she’s quoted. “And honestly, [we] just like some ‘wonderful people’ like Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian.”
Following the backlash, the Russian entrepreneur has issued an apology on her Instagram, expressing regrets for her behaviour in the past:
“I am deeply ashamed by the comments I made in 2012. Frankly, I’m as shocked as anyone to be viewing that footage today … The person I was six years ago is not who I am today. In the intervening years, I have committed myself to a journey of personal growth, where ignorance has been replaced by acceptance, and discrimination by inclusion.”
You can read her statement in full below.
