‘Bachelor’ contestant’s White Lives Matter campaign costs her ‘Cosmo’ cover
During Monday night’s group date on , things were getting steamy between Peter Weber and multiple ladies, as the women posed in bikinis for a chance to be featured on the cover of magazine. Ultimately, Cosmo’s editor-in-chief, Jessica Pels, picked Victoria F. as the winner of the challenge.
Unfortunately for Victoria F., her cover is now being tainted as Cosmo published a letter, following the episode, titled, “Why We’re Not Publishing the Cosmo ‘Bachelor’ Cover.”
In the letter, Pels wrote, “It wasn’t until a few weeks ago that I found out that the woman I’d chosen had, in her past, modeled in an ad campaign wearing White Lives Matter attire.”
Back in January, pictures of Victoria F. modeling for an alleged White Lives Matter clothing brand surfaced on Twitter, which, ultimately, sparked a heated debate as some users began to accuse Victoria F. of being racist, while others pointed out that the merchandise was created by an organization called “The White Marlin Marina,” which sold the shirts to promote the conservation of white marlin fish. Regardless, the company’s play off the phrase did not sit well with Pels, who wrote, “In my view, the nature of the organization is neither here nor there—both phrases and the belief systems they represent are rooted in racism and therefore problematic.”
Pels added, “Unequivocally, the White Lives Matter movement does not reflect the values of the Cosmo brand. We stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, and any cause that fights to end injustices for people of color.”
The editor-in-chief concluded her statement explaining that, while the magazine has already printed the fashion shoot in their March issue, complete with an inset of the cover, ultimately, they have chosen to “not publish the digital cover” on their website or social feeds.
However, the picture of Peter and Victoria F. is still on site and, for now, the 25-year-old’s potential future with the Bachelor is going strong as Peter later shared, “I enjoy every second I spend with Victoria F. and it’s never enough. We have a connection. There’s no doubt about that. And I feel really good about where we could go.”
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