Victoria’s Secret & Co. halted its promotion goal for Black workers and altered its language on diversity, equity and inclusion, joining a stampede of companies in shifting policy as the US government and conservative activists attack corporate representation goals.
The lingerie retailer replaced references to DEI efforts with text on “inclusion and belonging,” archived and live versions of its website show. A section of the website on supplier diversity was also taken down.
“We are steadfast in our commitment to inclusion and belonging because it’s foundational to our company and to a high-performance culture,” a company representative said in a statement, adding it’s “the right thing for our people and business.” The company will continue to have “the best talent with diverse perspectives” while “being fully compliant with the law,” according to the statement.
Chief executive officer Hillary Super told workers in a recent memo that Victoria’s Secret will “ensure our global team is inclusive of a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.” She also pledged “a culture of fairness and opportunity for all.”
Diversity efforts at Victoria’s Secret have been closely followed after the company faced allegations of sexual misconduct and reports that female models and executives were bullied and harassed. It was also criticised for offering only a limited selection of sizes.
In response to a workplace misconduct lawsuit in 2021, the company pledged to invest $45 million in DEI-related initiatives over at least five years, with its then-sister company, Bath & Body Works Inc., promising the same amount.
The following year, Victoria’s Secret announced work with the Fifteen Percent Pledge — an organisation that calls on retailers to dedicate that percentage of shelf space to Black-owned brands, since close to 15 percent of the US population is Black.
The Victoria’s Secret representative said the company is still working with the Fifteen Percent Pledge, but it’s halting a goal of promoting a specific percentage of Black workers and is reevaluating its supplier goal.
The Reynoldsburg, Ohio-based retailer is following peers including Target Corp., Meta Platforms Inc., and Walmart Inc. in removing references to DEI initiatives amid criticism from President Donald Trump and Washington. Trump has attacked the policies while pledging to forge “a society that is colorblind and merit based.” During his first day in office, he signed an executive order aimed to end policies that constitute “illegal” DEI discrimination. Several of his DEI orders have been challenged in court.
The company is scheduled to report earnings on Wednesday afternoon. Shares of Victoria’s Secret, which appointed Super as CEO last year, have fallen 44 percent since the start of the year through Tuesday’s close.
By Lily Meier
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