Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries: "Fat Chicks Will Never Be in The In Crowd"

I came across an article about why the CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch doesn't want to provide clothing sizes X-Large and XX-Large for women and girls. At first I though it would be about what most clothing designers say about their size preferences but after reading the entire article I was disgusted.

Here are a few quotes from the article:

"According to this popular teen clothing retailer, fat chicks will just never be a part of the “in” crowd."

“He doesn’t want larger people shopping in his store, he wants thin and beautiful people,” Lewis said. “He doesn’t want his core customers to see people who aren’t as hot as them wearing his clothing. People who wear his clothing should feel like they’re one of the ‘cool kids.’”

“In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids,” he told the site. “Candidly, we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely. Those companies that are in trouble are trying to target everybody: young, old, fat, skinny. But then you become totally vanilla. You don’t alienate anybody, but you don’t excite anybody, either,” he told Salon.

I can't event begin to speak how I truly feel because I can't believe he would make these statements out loud. I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion but to be a public figure for a company that markets to mainly teenagers, you have to be careful what you say. It only further trigger those with body image issues to go further into having a negative body image.

What ever happen to uplifting those so they can be happy with who they are???? Is it really a crime to promote size acceptance????

Looking at the pictures of Mike Jeffries I can only think that he is living the life he wish he did when he was a teen. He may have his own body image issues that he has not worked through and seek happiness from making other feel the way he does.

Although I have never shopped in Abercrombie & Fitch (they definitely wouldn't have my size), I hope those who can shop there will take action and stand up to the ignorant comments made by the CEO. The stigma placed on plus size people is horrible. We are not horrible people and we deserve to be respected the same way as some one who is much smaller.

The ignorance of one should never be your definition, use moments like these to become stronger. Your pants size does not define your worth and always remember that. Only those who are unhappy with themselves want to hurt others. Love yourself always!!!!!!