I wanted my first post of the new year to be happy and positive, but this topic could not be swept aside. The makeup world is ablaze with all the talk regarding the Revlon lawsuit filed by former top scientist Alan Meyer, who claims the CEO Lorenzo Delpani is a racist, anti-Semitic bully. Because I don’t want to get too angry or militant while writing, and therefore not representing the statements accurately, here is an article from the New York Post:
The CEO of Revlon is a bigoted bully who hates “dirty” Americans, thinks Jews “stick together” and believes he can “smell” black people when they walk into a room, according to a new lawsuit.
The beauty company’s boss, Lorenzo Delpani, made the ugly comments after taking over in 2013, according to a discrimination suit filed by Revlon’s former top scientist, Alan Meyers, who says he was ostracized because of his Jewish heritage.
Delpani, a native of Italy, told Meyers he was “shocked” there weren’t more Jews at the company because the biggest shareholder is Ron Perelman, a prominent Jewish American, according to the suit.
“Jews stick together,” Delpani quipped. He also allegedly added that “thankfully,” Perelman “is not like that anymore.”
Delpani also said that he hates living among Americans, whom he called “small-minded” and “dirty,” and that he can’t wait to get back to a “real” country, according to court papers filed this week.
He later allegedly went on an “anti-American tirade” in which he said the US is getting closer to being like ISIS.
Meyers also claims Delpani made a racist comment after a meeting in South Africa, when he said he “could smell a black person when he entered a room.”
Meyers also claims Delpani made a racist comment after a meeting in South Africa, when he said he “could smell a black person when he entered a room.”
Meyers says Delpani had it out for him for having red-flagged safety issues in the production and manufacturing process.
Meyers claims he was concerned that several labs were not equipped to adequately test raw materials to satisfy Revlon’s safety standards.
Meyers, 56, who joined Revlon in 2010, was fired last month after he complained about the issues and his treatment, the lawsuit says.
Revlon spokeswoman Kiki Rees on Wednesday said Meyers was a disgruntled employee who did not perform up to company standards.
“Mr. Meyers repeatedly demonstrated critical lapses in judgment and failed to perform at the high standard we demand of our employees,” Rees said.
In the suit, Meyers claims Delpani’s tirades and tormenting eventually became outright bullying.
Meyers described one incident in October, when he allegedly was forced by Delpani to act as a human easel during a high-level meeting.
Meyers says he was instructed to hold a whiteboard, which covered his entire upper torso and head, for approximately 30 minutes.
He saw this as a demeaning gesture, he says, especially since he was supposed to be part of the leadership team.
Stress from the ordeal forced Meyers into the hospital with chest pains, the lawsuit says. He said he was fired on Dec. 10.
In his suit, he is demanding unspecified punitive and compensatory damages.Attorneys for
Meyers were unavailable Wednesday for comment.
Needless to say (but I’m going to say it anyway), this is disgraceful. If these claims are true, Revlon better be bracing itself for the major fallout that will ensue as a result. According Revlon’s website, the allegations are baseless and meritless. Ronald Pearlmann, their Chairman states:
“I know Lorenzo as an executive and as a person. These allegations are both absurd and offensive to me and those around me. I personally know his mind and his character. He is among the least bigoted or biased human I have ever known. He has my full support.”
Being a worldwide, famous, cosmetics brand for women of all ages and backgrounds, this is horrendous news [if true]. Will spokeswomen like Halle Berry pull out of their contracts? Will stores pull product off of their shelves? Whether true or not, bad publicity always generates backlash immediately. From what I’ve see and heard online thus far proves it. Thousands of women have already thrown out all of the Revlon products they’ve previously purchased, many have gone back to stores to return newly-purchased makeup as a direct result of hearing this news, and many have vowed to never buy Revlon again. AND they test on animals, so that wipes out another group of women (if they weren’t already offended enough by their alleged treatment of humans).
If you’ve read my blog before, you’ll know that I’m big fan of Revlon’s Colorstay Foundation, to the point that I hoarded the whipped version in my shade because it was discontinued (click here to read). I also have several shades of their awesome lipsticks–what’s a makeup junkie to do? Should I wait to see if Delpani is guilty before tossing everything? Do I stop wearing all Revlon products in the meantime? Or should I just say screw it and throw everything in the trash now? I’m so conflicted.
Yes I know…first world problems. The world won’t end, wars won’t be won or lost over this, and it won’t be mentioned in our children’s history books. However, people’s lives will be affected–and I don’t mean on the superficial level (my level, admittedly); this could cost people their jobs, affecting the livelihoods of many. Let’s see what happens.
On the plus side, this will clear a nice amount of space on my shelf.
The Vickylicious 