Balenciaga Fires Casting Directors After Being Accused of Abusing Models

Casting director James Scully posted to Instagram yesterday alleging that Balenciaga's casting agents Maida Gregori Boina and Rami Fernandes had abused models, making them wait in a stairwell for more than 3 hours during a casting. Calling the pair "serial abusers," Scully wrote that they "shut the door, went to lunch and turned off the lights," leaving all the models with only the lights of their phones to see. "Not only was this sadistic and cruel, it was dangerous and left more than a few of the girls I spoke with traumatized," he wrote, adding that several models cancelled because they "refuse to be treated like animals."

Beyond Balenciaga's controversy, the fashion whistleblower revealed that several agents told him they "recevied a mandate from Lanvin that they do not want to be presented with women of color." He also alleged that a number of big houses are "trying to sneak 15-year-olds into paris," saying that it's shocking to him that "people have no regard for human decency or the lives and feelings of these girls, especially when too too many of these models are under the age of 18 and not equipped to be here." If this behavior continues, "it's going to be a long cold week in Paris," he adds.

So true to my promise at #bofvoices that I would be a voice for any models, agents or all who see things wrong with this business I'm disappointed to come to Paris and hear that the usual suspects are up to the same tricks. I was very disturbed to hear from a number of girls this morning that yesterday at the Balenciaga casting Madia & Ramy (serial abusers) held a casting in which they made over 150 girls wait in a stairwell told them they would have to stay over 3 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. Not only was this sadistic and cruel it was dangerous and left more than a few of the girls I spoke with traumatized. Most of the girls have asked to have their options for Balenciaga cancelled as well as Hermes and Ellie Saab who they also cast for because they refuse to be treated like animals. Balenciaga part of Kering it is a public company and these houses need to know what the people they hire are doing on their behalf before a well deserved law suit comes their way. On top of that I have heard from several agents, some of whom are black that they have received mandate from Lanvin that they do not want to be presented with women of color. And another big house is trying to sneak 15 year olds into paris! It's inconceivable to me that people have no regard for human decency or the lives and feelings of these girls, especially when too too many of these models are under the age of 18 and clearly not equipped to be here but god forbid well sacrifice anything or anyone for an exclusive right? If this behavior continues it's gonna be a long cold week in paris. Please keep sharing your stories with me and I will continue to to share them for you. It seems to be the only way we can force change and give the power back to you models and agents where it rightfully belongs. And I encourage any and all to share this post #watchthisspace

A post shared by james scully (@jamespscully) on Feb 27, 2017 at 10:40am PST

Since Scully's report, which spread rapidly online, Balenciaga has fired their casting directors, releasing a full statement announcing that they'd discontinued their relationship. "The House reacted immediately, making radical changes to the casting process, including discontinuing the relationship with the current casting agency," the Parisian fashion house said. "Additionally, Balenciaga sent a written apology to the agencies of the models who were affected by this specific situation, asking them to share it with them. Balenciaga condemns this incident and will continue to be deeply committed to ensure the most respectful working conditions for the models."

Lanvin has yet to make an official statement addressing Scully's allegations, though the casting director spoke with Vogueabout the problematic root of fashion's whitewashing and changes he'd like to see in the modeling industry. "We can't treat these girls like they're disposable," he said. "They're treated like things that can be traded and have no feelings. Someone has been called out now; nobody believed someone would do it, whether it was me or someone else. Now that the girls have been given a voice, I think it's time to continue."

In December 2016, Scully delivered a powerful address to Business of Fashion, speaking to fashion's bullying, cruelty and discrimination of models. "[The fashion industry is] so much more sadistic and so much more mean than you can believe," he said, asking the audience to "support girls more and stop treating them like Tinder swipes." Watch Scully's call to action, below.