Abercrombie & Fitch says it’s no longer working with gay plus-size model Michael McCauley after problematic social media posts he wrote resurfaced on Twitter just as he was being profiled in the company’s new ad campaign about inclusiveness.
Quick backstory: Queerty ran an interview with McCauley earlier this month during which he touted the importance of diverse representation. Shortly after the interview published, however, a number of racist social media posts written by McCauley started recirculating on Twitter.
In one of them, McCauley blasted members of Black Lives Matter, calling them “a group of extremists.” In another, he bemoaned the activist group for blocking the streets and making him late for a meeting. And in another, he took aim at Jada Pinkett Smith for her stance on #OscarsSoWhite then complained that the Grammys don’t nominate enough white artists.
Now, in a statement to Queerty, the company says it has terminated its relationship with McCauley:
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
A&F has worked hard over the last few years, particularly under new leadership, to improve and be more inclusive with everything we do, including our marketing, our size ranges, our charitable partners, our store experiences and our hiring practices. A&F’s Face Your Fierce campaign was created to help promote diversity, equity and inclusion, and the comments made by Mike McCauley clearly do not support that goal. They also contradict the values of our company, our associates and our customers. As such, we are no longer working with him.
Queerty reached out to McCauley for a comment when the controversy first erupted, but he never responded to our request. Last week, he took to Twitter and Instagram to issue an apology.
“I want to address the comments that were recently brought to light from several years ago,” he said. “They were not intended to be hurtful. I realize how insensitive they are and I’m sorry for the harm they’ve cause. Thank you.”
Related: OP-ED: Here’s what we can learn from gay plus-size model Michael McCauley’s racist posts
MaxH
I’m sorry but plus-size model really just means “Fat person in front of a camera”.
Catholicslutbox
He was fat and gross anyways.
Good riddance.
justgeo
So now he can go on a diet!
REDBEARD
Three bitchy Queerty queens who have no life.
bjm123
and one bitchy Queerty queen who is redundant!
jonasalden
I don’t feel sorry for him. His arrogant energy IN THE ORIGINAL CLIPS made my stomach burn.
Mr C
OOOPS! ?. LOL
Bdavid
Why is it the gay community is so hateful it is own? Too much shaming of body, age, race, etc!
Why can’t we support each other and uplift each other. We want equal rights but we can’t even get along within our own community!
Cam
He’s getting hate because he made statements many saw as racist.
RON REED
EVERYTHING A WHITE GAY MAN OR STRAIGHT MAN STATES IS RACIST. WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER RACES HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT WHITE MEN (GAY OR STRAIGHT). THEM COMMENTS ARE NOT RACIST?? DOUBLE STANDARDS. TALK ABOUT CALLING THE HIGH HEELS BLACK!!!
Kangol2
@RONSCREAMINGREED, girl, stop shouting and stop being so fragile & politically correct. Don’t be racist & you won’t incur any blowback. If he hadn’t written what he did & posted it he’d still be an Abercrombie posterboy stuffing himself into their sad clothes. He made his bed so he has to lie in it!
succubus
ooo that smell
Cam
This is what people like the Log Cabin Republicans and those right wing trolls we get in here want. They want the LGBT community to hate other minorities.
This was a strategy right wing groups planned out years ago. Leaked memos from the bigoted group NOM talked about going onto LGBT sites and trying to drive a wedge between the black community and the LGBT community.
Looks like they got to this guy. Whenever you see a troll on here bringing up race. That’s who they are and what they’re trying to do.
greybat
It’s a safe assumption. To be a Racist is a ridiculous attribute to possess.
I just assume Media Conservatives are lying to maintain their Game Advantage until proven otherwise.
bjm123
THe LGBT “community” did that back in the 1970s when they didn’t want to be associated with the black movement of the day. Long has the gay community participated in this type of hate speech! He deserved to get fired!!!!!!!! But what is the “NOM” group?
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
I guess he realizes now that Will and Jada weren’t worth the paycheck he just lost. By now I thought everyone who seeks a career in any form of entertainment or modeling knew to either shut up about such social issues or if they have said such things go back and delete those accounts NOW. Social media has stung quite a few people years after they posted things they have long forgotten about.
bjm123
But this isn’t really like he hasn’t been saying those things on a repeated basis. He has said them so many times to where they are in his psyche. Did you hear him blame it on “drugs?” It’s like grow up man and take your responsibilities! He had a cushy job and threw it away because he couldn’t control himself and racial tendencies.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
Theres something about him that makes me think he does not turn down black guys with BBC’s.
Ronbo
Us fat people know that the posters here are doing to us what they object to in others.
Better to remain silent than reveal your own bigotry. You’ll soon add the pounds and understand. So… shhhhhhhh.
MISTERJETT
he didn’t say anything that millions of other people say and think. prejudice, bigotry, racism and homophobia exist and unfortunately always will.
bjm123
So….does that make it right….?
Jussie_Racist_Clown
I never saw the A&F ad compaign and I’ve never seen this guys fat azz in tight jeans. I thank God for that. Meanwhile he’s got that whiney voice “IIIIIIIIIIIIII’m SSSSSoooorry”. Nah, that ain’t gonna work.
You sealed your fate. You’ve proven that you have no sex appeal, no pizzazz, and that you’re nothing special. You’re known as that fat guy who got the improbable job of modeling A&F clothes. Then you took a dump on your own career and you’re whining like a stuffed ….
Get lost. Nobody ever wanted to see any of that anyway, and we really don’t want to see any more of it right now. Go eat something.
bjm123
This is what he gets. We see more and more of gay white men be racist or make racist rants because they feel as if they are above everyone else. I listened to SOME of his “apology” and he still came across as an arrogant prick! I commend A&F on taking the initiative towards correcting this situation by removing him.
Wheelerman
Shame him for his ignorant remarks; not his weight. Those fat-shaming him are no better than he with his remarks. I applaud A&F for including plus sized guys in their campaigns. They just now need to find another and get him thoroughly vetted so this doesn’t happen again.
Patsy Stoned 75
The Sherry Pie for the plus-sized
bk92
Me just sitting here reading the comments watching everyone tear this dude up about his weight while calling him “intolerant”. The amount of hypocrisy on every side of every issue is amazing now a days. None of you are any better than him imo.
bjm123
bk92: I am glad that you are “sitting there and reading the comments
and here’s another one” You talk about hypocrisy but you fail to mention his own hypocrisy! He talked himself out of a job because he felt white and entitled! If he really wanted to “rake responsibility” then he would’ve taken his fat behind to rehab! Good for A&F!!!!!!!!!