Iconic fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld dead at 85: report
The Chanel creative director reportedly passed away in Paris after being ill for several weeks.
Model Cara Delevingne confronted Jameela Jamil after the actress didn't praise the iconic fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, who died on Tuesday at age 85, and instead brought up his past controversial statements just hours after he passed away.
As the rest of the world pauses to mourn his passing, “The Good Place” actress slammed the late Chanel creative director.
“I’m glad somebody said it. Even if it is a little soon. A ruthless, fat-phobic misogynist shouldn’t be posted all over the internet as a saint gone-too-soon. Talented for sure, but not the best person,” Jamil tweeted while sharing an article from Wear Your Voice titled, “Stop Mourning Oppressors: Anti-condolences for Karl Lagerfeld.”
Jamil, who often speaks out against fat-shaming, was likely referring to Lagerfeld’s history of making controversial statements about weight loss and women. The designer sparked criticism when he once told France’s Metro newspaper that British singer Adele was “a little too fat.”
Lagerfeld, following Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding, said the Duchess of Sussex’s sister, Pippa Middleton, “should only show her back” because he didn’t “like the sister’s face.”
The prolific designer also criticized the #MeToo movement in a 2018 interview with Numero.
“If you don’t want your pants pulled about, don’t become a model! Join a nunnery, there’ll always be a place for you in the convent,” he said at the time.
In 2005, Lagerfeld published the book “The Karl Lagerfeld Diet,” where he said fashion is “the healthiest motivation for losing weight.”
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“There is nothing worse than looking longingly at clothes that you would like to wear but that are definitely too tight for you,” Lagerfeld writes.
Hollywood celebrities, models and politicians paid tribute to Lagerfeld Tuesday shortly after the designer’s death was announced. Many called him one of the “greatest designers” in the fashion industry and a "legend."
Delevingne posted a heartfelt tribute to Lagerfeld, who she said was “one of the most interesting and caring men” she has ever met.
"He changed my life, he believed in me when so many others didn’t including myself. He also introduced me to some of the most important and special people in my life. He is a visionary, a genius but more than that.... a dear friend," Delevingne wrote in an Instagram post. "Outside of fashion, he was one of the most interesting and caring men I have ever met. I am so lucky and grateful to have had him in my life, worked with him and been able to spend time with him.... Although now, I wish it had been more."
On Wednesday, Delevingne confronted Jamil about her tweet, saying that Lagerfeld's death has made it an "extremely emotional time" for her.
"I understand what you were trying to do and I apologize if I offended you or anyone else. I just don’t feel that living in the past and bringing up things that have already happened helps anything. Let’s move forward and lead with love. That’s it...," Delevingne tweeted at Jamil.
The actress responded to the model by saying she didn't find her offensive but noted Lagerfeld's past comments were problematic.
"I just think it hurts a lot of fat people, and people who he was racist about, and people who were affected by his toxic misogyny, to see someone like that hailed as if he was a saint. We have privelege (sic) so he was nice to us. He hurt a lot of people," Jamil tweeted.
Delevingne admitted Lagerfeld was "not a saint" and that he should be given a chance to be forgiven. Jamil apologized for slamming the late designer, but reiterated her position.
"Again, we can’t chalk decades of abusive rhetoric towards minorities as “being human” or “ making mistakes” doing it once as a joke and then apologizing is one thing, doing it again and again in spite of public outcry is a bad human. I’m sorry to speak ill of someone you love," the actress said.
Delevinge asked Jamil to consider "leaving some space" for those grieving Lagerfeld's death before discussing the issues. She also hit back at the actress for possibly comparing Lagerfeld to disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein.
"I’m not comparing their [Lagerfeld and Weinstein] actions. I’m saying we can’t blame an individual’s crimes on the industry they work in. We have to hold the very powerful people who hurt people to task. X," Jamil said, adding that she was being "honest" in voicing Lagerfeld's faults.
"I am glad that we can have this open conversation without trying to attack each other, it’s just very raw for a lot of people, me included. I am going to step away. I am sending nothing but love and I hope you feel the same," Delevingne tweeted. "I only went on twitter because a lot of people close to him were so hurt by what you said so I had to say something. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I respect that. Sending you love and best wishes in return. Just asking for some sensitivity at this time."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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