Earlier this week, Cosmo pulled a cover featuring The Bachelor's Victoria Fuller after they discovered that the contestant had previously modeled in a campaign that used the phrase "White Lives Matter." However, before the cover was pulled, Victoria Fuller offered a half-hearted apology where she explained her reasoning, but mostly defended her actions.
On Monday night's episode of The Bachelor, the women competed for a chance to be on the cover of Cosmo alongside the season's leading man, Peter Weber. After the women modeled in various apparel and locations, Cosmo's editor-in-chief chose Victoria Fuller as the lucky winner who would appear on an upcoming cover. Seconds after her win was announced, however, Cosmo released a statement explaining that it decided not to run her cover after photos emerged of Victoria participating in a past modeling campaign that employed "White Lives Matter." Cosmo's editor-in-chief Jessica Pels said, "Unequivocally, the White Lives Matter movement does not reflect the values of the Cosmo brand." She continued, "We stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, and any cause that fights to end injustices for people of color."
Although the White Lives Matter issue became a well-known fact due to Cosmo's decision, Victoria addressed the controversy herself earlier in the season (via E! News). Soon after the season started, an advertisement resurfaced for a marlin conversation group. In the photos, Victoria wore a "WLM" hat, while other models posed in t-shirts, one of which depicted a Confederate flag while the other had "White Lives Matter" emblazoned on the front. The photos understandably sparked outrage, so Victoria took to her Instagram to try and repair the damage. Victoria wrote, "The company 'We Love Marlins' is in support of catching white, blue & black marlins and releasing them back into the wild." The statement continued, "In regards to a sensitive topic, I come from a very diverse background & am in support of all races! Virginia Beach is a VERY large fishing town where marlin tournaments are held every year! Glad to clear this up."
Beyond her original, now-deleted post, Victoria also took to the comments section after the Instagram account @bachelorclues shared the photos. When criticized by a fan for her poor decision, Victoria responded by writing, "I'm sorry if you or anyone else's feelings were hurt. That was never my intention." In another comment, she admitted that she could "definitely see how this could be offensive." Yet another comment featured more apologizing as Victoria wrote, "It was never my intention to lessen this matter." As for Cosmo pulling her cover, the star has yet to supply any kind of response.
As far as apologies go, Victoria's is severely lacking. In fact, her first explanation doesn't feature any kind of remorse. Instead, it supplies a justification for her actions and tries to excuse her poor decision. Even her comments back to her haters are lacking in responsibility. She says it wasn't intention and apologizes if she hurt anyone, but never states that it was a poor decision or fully acknowledges the magnitude of her choice. Given her inadequate response to the controversy, Cosmo's decision to pull the cover was not only the right decision - it was a necessary step. Perhaps it will finally force Victoria to understand why her actions are wrong and offer a real apology.
The Bachelor airs Mondays at 8pm EST on ABC.
Source: E!