The 2019 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Is Now Literally and Figuratively Cancelled
Following a series of unconfirmed rumors that the show will not take place.
L Brands has confirmed that this year’s 2019 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is cancelled. Executives from the parent company made the announcement and, as of now, Victoria’s Secret itself has remained silent. The news follows supermodel Shanina Shaik‘s allegation that the show will not take place in an interview back in July.
“We think it’s important to evolve the marketing of Victoria’s Secret,” L Brands Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President Stuart B. Burgdoerfer told WWD. The change in plans isn’t a complete surprise, as Victoria’s Secret went under fire last year for transphobic comments former CMO Ed Razek made while criticizing Rihanna‘s Fall/Winter 2018 Savage x Fenty show. “Shouldn’t you have transsexuals in the show? No. No, I don’t think we should. Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy,” Razek said in an interview for Vogue. Razek’s comments sparked massive controversy, with many taking to social media to proclaim the brand “cancelled” in the figurative sense.
Victoria’s Secret sales have been declining since 2017. Figures fell to $1.08 billion from $1.17 billion during last year’s third quarter, as reported by WWD. Stay tuned for updates as it remains to be seen whether the brand will issue an official statement regarding L Brand’s announcement.
