Comments on: Open letter to Ralph Lauren

By: Been There

Been There — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:16:11 +0000

This is ridiculous. Again people with issues blaming anyone they can so they don’t have to take responsibility for your actions. I have OCD which caused 37 years of misery in my life. Addtionally I struggled with an eating disorder because of it. It is Chemical people. Get help, I did, but that was my responsibility and I am so tired of people blaming everything on the media etc. It it was not Ralph Lauren then it would be something else. I love this company and will buy even more Lauren products………..Get over yourselved peopl

By: Misty

Misty — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 15:55:52 +0000

Such an inspiring article and applies to not just Ralph but so many mainstream fashion/media companies projecting the image that skinny size zero is beautiful. I would say I am relatively strong as a person and can see that this is just wrong and I try to not let it affect me, but after years of being force fed this image of what beautiful is you have brainwashed even me into believing that I am ugly and this kind of woman is something to aspire to even if it actually is VERY unhealthy.
Every time I look in the mirror I hate what I see, so much so that I actually phisically feel sick. I hate how I look and I cannot help my shape but I will never look like these models even if I stopped eating, my bone structure is just not like a mans or a teenage childs.
I am 24 and my confidence has gone from being strong and rebbelious to a Prozac’ed up councilled messed in the head young woman who compares herself to the women on TV, films, Models. It even effects men to you know, you think by portraying this image of skinny to be beautiful it makes relationships so god damned hard as I feel some men are distracted now of this image of the perfect woman and I see so many young girls trying to copy this to appeal to men, it’s so wrong.
I am bi sexual as well so personally, I like a woman to have some bouncy meat on her! It’s sexy and healthy, a stick insect that I could break is definatly not sexy really but if you see it every day it starts to affect how you think, it’s such a confusing world, no wonder there are so many messed up people. No one knows who they are anymore.

By: Beverly

Beverly — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 06:42:51 +0000

The women in the ads look like reflections in funhouse mirrors. Strange that even the people who designed the ads would think that’s a good idea.
This stuff is damaging to girls. You’re in denial if you say otherwise. You’re deflecting blame if you list excuses such as “everyone does it.”
Go ahead and have healthy, attractive people in your ads. But let them be real people, for crying out loud!

By: Lynne

Lynne — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:22:47 +0000

Thank you for this. Wow. I overcame anorexia and exercise bulimia 5 or 6 years ago. I watched my body atrophy in such a short amount of time. I eventually snapped out of it and woke up one day… I don’t even know how. I’m just lucky. The thoughts never really go away, but it gets easier for me day by day. I can’t even admit that this even happened to me, although people that knew me 5 or 6 years ago definitely assumed I was going through something. I’m happy you wrote this letter. Thank you Darryl.

By: Ronda Wood

Ronda Wood — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:49:03 +0000

It is heartening to me to see any media recognition of the body hatred and self hatred perpetuated by said media on women. The sad fact is that there are billions of dollars of profit to be made by keeping women feeling unhappy and indeed desperate about how they look.
How can I find out when and where your film is showing?
Thank you for your efforts.

By: Irene Bruggeman

Irene Bruggeman — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:17:09 +0000

Being the mother of 2 girls (5 & 2), I’m already concerned about how the media affects their self-image and even more so as they get older. I am outraged by what is portrayed as beautiful and personally view models as show in RL ads as freaks. This isn’t normal or something to aspire to! I won’t be buying RL products for my family again unless there is drastic turnaround in how women are portrayed. There are other options — look at the Dove Real Beauty Campaign.
Thank you for taking up the cause Darryl, on behalf of me and my daughters.
Irene

By: Anne Farrington

Anne Farrington — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:10:02 +0000

Darryl, This was forwarded to me by a friend who lost her daughter to suicide last summer after 6 years of struggling with anorexia and bulimia. I have never seen your film and am wondering how I would go about getting a copy for a private screening. I would like to invite a group to see it and possibly rent out the local theater for a private party. How would I get in touch with you to discuss this further. I am glad this came across my desk. Your note is powerfully written. Can’t wait to see the film now!

Anne

By: Molly

Molly — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:57:20 +0000

HELP ME FEEL GOOD ABOUT MYSELF. LET ME SEE THE WOMEN I LOOK UP TO AS PEOPLE I DON’T HAVE TO KILL MYSELF TO BECOME. Please. When I see those models, all I see is how much of a freak-show I am. I am only 16 years old.

Please stop this Ralph Lauren. Make a change in this world.

Love,
Molly

(P.S.)- Beautifully done, Darryl. You are such an inspiration to the future of America.

By: Judy Macks

Judy Macks — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:29:43 +0000

Stop hurting our children and all women. Please use real women as your models. Until then, I will not be buying Ralph Lauren products.
Thank you.

By: Tammie

Tammie — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:04:43 +0000

I have not yet seen the documentary, but am hoping to get to see it soon, and I am very thankful that it was made.

As far as the RL ad and firing of Filippa Hamilton goes, I was upset and saddened by both. I did not know about the subsequent ads, and now that I do, I find those appalling, as well. I did write to ANAD after the first ad to make sure that their eating disorder recovery advocates were aware of it. I also told as many people as I could about it (& I know a lot of people in person and online). I asked that they boycott RL products and I am doing so myself, even though I used to like RL products.

As someone who spent 20 yrs battling eating disorders, and who after recovering became a counselor to help others with them, I have had plenty of interactions with people with eating disorders, education about eating disorders, and personal and professional experience with them.

I can say with certainty that the images and attitudes presented in the media most definitely have a negative impact on the body images of even completely healthy women (and men), and they play a huge role in both helping to cause and perpetuate eating disorders. No, they are not the only cause; not by any means, but they are a very big one. For this reason, I am very committed to advocating against ads portraying unhealthy and far too thin models, and I will continue to avoid products by those generating such ads, unless they change.