#New Teen Vogue EIC Alexi McCammond apologizes for controversial tweets

Teen Vogue’s incoming editor-in-chief Alexi McCammond on Wednesday publicly addressed the controversy over her decade-old tweets that mocked Asian people.

McCammond, 27, shared a letter on Twitter saying she was “so sorry to have used such hurtful and inexcusable language.”

“At any point in my life, it’s totally inexcusable.”

The letter, addressed to “Teen Vogue community, staff, readers, writers, photographers, content creators, and friends,” came after employees of the digital publication called out McCammond for the 2011 tweets.

“Now googling how to not wake up with swollen, asian eyes…,” one of the tweets read. In another, McCammond wrote: “Outdone by Asian.”

The tweets were originally uncovered in 2019, when McCammond first apologized for them, writing: “I am deeply sorry to anyone I offended. I have since deleted those tweets as they do not reflect my views or who I am today.”

They resurfaced on social media over the weekend, shortly after parent company Condé Nast announced that McCammond, an Axios political reporter, had been tapped to lead the fashion title, which frequently tackles political issues.

More than 20 Teen Vogue staffers condemned McCammond’s “past racist and homophobic tweets” in a statement on Twitter Monday, arguing that her hiring doesn’t mesh with the publication’s “inclusive environment” especially amid rising anti-Asian violence.

“What an awful introduction we’ve had to each other this week,” McCammond, a contributor for MSNBC and NBC, noted in her letter.

“This has been one of the hardest weeks of my life in large part because of the intense pain I know my words and my announcement have caused so many of you,” she wrote.

“I’ve apologized for my past racist and homophobic tweets and will reiterate that there’s no excuse for perpetuating those awful stereotypes in any way.”

Condé Nast defended its decision to hire McCammond while pointing out that she apologized for the social media posts.

“Alexi McCammond was appointed editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue because of the values inclusivity, and depth she has displayed throughout her journalism,” the company said in a statement.

“Throughout her career she has dedicated herself to being a champion for marginalized voices.”

McCammond in her letter said that she had dedicated her life “to giving a voice for the voiceless,” adding, “the last thing I want to do is to make anyone — but especially our Asian brothers and sisters in particular — feel more invisible.”

“I am deeply sorry that our introduction has happened in this way and I’m asking you to judge us based on the work that we do from here on out,” the note added.

“I’m also asking you to hold me accountable as we embark on this journey together,” McCammond wrote. “This dialogue is only beginning and I feel eternally grateful to continue with all of you.”

McCammond is set to start in her new role on March 24.

She was recently embroiled in a media scandal involving the Biden administration after her boyfriend, then-White House deputy press secretary TJ Ducklo, threatened a Politico reporter working on a story about their relationship. Ducklo ultimately resigned.