Wolfgang Joop (German fashion designer) has apologized after being accused by models of sexual abuse.
Joop, 76, founder of fashion and cosmetics brand JOOP!, said in an interview with German news magazine Der Spiegel that he mourned the end of an era in fashion when ‘everything could be bought’.
He said: ‘The agencies gave rich men the keys to the rooms of models who didn’t bring in so much money. And if a girl complained, she was told, “We can always do without you.”‘
German fashion designer Wolfgang Joop has apologised after being accused of ‘glorifying sexual abuse’ of models. Pictured, Joop with supermodel Claudia Schiffer in 1998
When the interviewer pointed out that was ‘terrible’, he added: ‘Yes, but the fashion world is only really beautiful when there is also sin.’
The comments, published on Friday, were met with outrage by Twitter users who called for the designer to be ‘cancelled’.
One tweeted: ‘Abusive and misogynistic comments by Wolfgang #joop! glorifying sexual abuse and exploitation of women in the fashion industry in the “good old days” of Karl #Lagerfeld.’
Another posted: ‘Designer Wolfgang Joop muses over the beautiful and sinful decades when models were basically sex trafficked: “The agencies gave the keys to the models’ rooms, who didn’t bring so much money, to rich men”.’
A third, in a tweet translated from German, added: ‘Rape, sexual assault – the good old days. Such misogynous s**t can still be said normally in an interview in the Spiegel in 2021. I could puke!!!’
In an interview with German newspaper Der Spiegel, Joop (76), founder of fashion brand JOOP! and cosmetics company JOOP! said that he was saddened by the passing of an era when ‘everything can be bought. Joop with Heidi Klum at Germany’s Next Top Model 2015
Twitter users were furious at Friday’s comments and called for the designer’s cancellation.
He appeared with Heidi Klum in Germany’s Next Top Model. At first, the designer defended his remarks, saying to Bild that ‘the girls wanted to make money and be part of it. It was more beneficial to make contact with men of wealth than to just sit in the grocery store till.
He stated, “The events I am referring to happened.” I don’t condone these events.’
On Sunday, he issued a Facebook statement in which he apologized for any offense and strongly condemned the “abusive treatment” of models.
He stated that he had commented on the past fashion times. In my comments about the Seventies/Eighties, I mentioned the corruption and frivolity in the industry. A component of this was the abusive and disrespectful treatment of model.
My statement regarding sin in the fashion industry was not appropriate in its context. This is an apology. I also want to emphasize that I strongly reject violence and abuse of power at this time or today.
A statement was released by the designer via Facebook on Sunday. He apologises for any offences and condemns the ‘abusive treatment’ of models.