Alexi McCammond has recently made the difficult decision to step down from her position as the editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue, a role she had not even officially assumed yet. This decision came in the wake of controversy surrounding some tweets she posted over a decade ago that were deemed as anti-Asian and homophobic. In a statement posted on Twitter, McCammond shared that she and Condé Nast, the media powerhouse behind Teen Vogue, had come to a mutual agreement to part ways. She acknowledged that her past tweets have unfortunately overshadowed the important work she has done in shedding light on various social issues and individuals that align with Teen Vogue’s mission.
In taking full responsibility for her actions, McCammond expressed deep regret for the content of her old tweets and emphasized that she has undergone personal and professional growth since that time. At 27 years old, she was on the brink of beginning her journey at Teen Vogue, only to be met with a firestorm of criticism due to the resurfacing of her controversial tweets. This led to 20 members of the magazine’s editorial team voicing their concerns in a letter to Condé Nast about her appointment.
Notably, similar tweets had surfaced back in 2019 when McCammond was working as a political reporter for Axios. She had issued an apology then and continued her work with the platform up until the beginning of 2021. The revival of these tweets comes at a time when hate crimes against Asian Americans are alarmingly on the rise, partly fueled by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In response to the situation, a spokesperson for Condé Nast acknowledged the challenging discussions that arose from McCammond’s appointment. They reaffirmed the company’s dedication to creating a more inclusive and equitable workplace, underscoring their unwavering commitment to these principles. McCammond’s resignation underscores the significance of being held accountable in today’s social climate and underscores the importance of reflecting on past mistakes while endeavoring to evolve and improve oneself.
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