Some of fashion’s favourite faces have shown their support this week as details emerged regarding ‘sadistic and cruel’ treatment towards girls at an exclusive Balenciaga casting.
Jourdan Dunn, Edie Campbell and Leomie Anderson are just a few industry names applauding the actions of top casting agent James Scully as he bravely exposed the disturbing events he discovered during Paris Fashion Week on his Instagram.
Maida Gregori Boina and Rami Fernandes, the reported agents under fire, were described by Scully as ‘serial abusers.’ According to his lengthy post, more than 150 young girls were left ‘traumatised’ after being made to wait in a stairwell for over three hours.
He explains how the pair ‘told them they would have to stay over three hours to be seen and not to leave. In their usual fashion they shut the door went to lunch and turned off the lights, to the stairs leaving every girl with only the lights of their phones to see.’
The industry response has been overwhelming, as many came forward to add their own personal experiences to the conversation. Anderson, an activist in her own right, tweeted a screenshot of the post thanking Scully for being a ‘voice to models’, whilst Dunn showed her appreciation on Instagram commenting, ‘Thank you James speak that TRUTH!!!”
Campbell issued a personal thank-you, writing ‘Thank you to @jamespscully for calling out those people within the fashion industry who abuse their positions of power.’
Balenciaga, owned by the luxury Kering group, has since condemned the incident. In a statement, the brand announced it had ceased working with the casting agency and has sent written apologies to the models and their agents affected by the ordeal.
With the allegations casting a bleak shadow over the fun frivolity of the front row, Scully’s prediction of a ‘long cold week in Paris’ just might have set the tone as Fashion Week goes under watch.
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