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Donna Karan Apologizes (Again) For Harvey Weinstein Remarks, This Time Blames Jet Lag
This is "not who I am," the designer said in a televised interview.
After issuing controversial remarks on the Harvey Weinstein scandal, in which many felt she blamed the victims for sexual assault, designer Donna Karan has made another public apology in a Good Morning America interview that aired on Monday, October 30 — this time, saying her poor remarks were due to extreme jet lag.
Let's recap: In early October, when Karan addressed the Harvey Weinstein scandal, she told a reporter from The Daily Mail: "Obviously, the treatment of women all over the world is something that has always had to be identified ... To see it here in our own country is very difficult, but I also think how do we display ourselves? How do we present ourselves as women? What are we asking? Are we asking for it by presenting all the sensuality and all the sexuality?" The Internet had some serious thoughts about this statement, in which it seemed that Karan was blaming the victims for sexual assault.
Weinstein and Karan in 2007
The very next day, she apologized in a statement: "Last night, I was honored at the Cinemoi Fashion Film Awards in Hollywood and while answering a question on the red carpet I made a statement that unfortunately is not representative of how I feel or what I believe. My life has been dedicated to dressing and addressing the needs of women, empowering them and promoting equal rights. My statements were taken out of context and do not represent how I feel about the current situation concerning Harvey Weinstein. I believe that sexual harassment is NOT acceptable and this is an issue that MUST be addressed once and for all regardless of the individual."
This morning, she addressed the situation again, giving another apology (and explanation) on Good Morning America. As host Robin Roberts read back part of Karan's comments on Weinstein, the designer said: "I made a huge mistake." Karan continued: "What I said is so wrong and not who I am."
She then went on to explain that her exhaustion from a long trip might have played a factor: “I was exhausted. I had just come from a 14-hour plane trip... I walked into a situation that I wasn’t prepared for in any circumstances whatsoever.”
Karan continued, “I love women. I absolutely adore women. I care about them. I’m a mother. I’m a grandmother, you know? And I’ve never done this before and I will never ever do it again."
It's pretty clear that Karan wishes she had never made her now infamous remarks at the fashion film awards, and we believe her when she says that her public comments going foward will have a much different tone.
