In addition to its long-running pageant sequence, Afropunk has operated an online publication for a number of years. Today (September 5), longtime editor-in-chief Lou Constant-Desportes has revealed that he has resigned from his place. In a statement posted publicly on his Facebook, Constant-Desportes defined his resignation, claiming that he “experienced and witnessed so many lies, gaslighting, disrespect, victim-blaming, exploitation,” in addition to “overworked, undervalued and underpaid staff being kept in precarious situations.”
Constant-Desportes acknowledged that “the philosophy and actions of some of the people who run the company are so at odds with the values that they claim to stand for.” He later elaborated, “they were using radical imagery, slogans and intersectional mottos to market their events. Performative activism offered to sponsors as ways to promote their products. Elitism under the guise of ‘Black excellence.’” In addition, Constant-Desportes claimed, “when the editorial content material was too ‘radical’ or unapologetic for his or her style, we have been requested to tone it down, our independence was compromised.
According to Constant-Desportes, Afropunk is “attempting to make [him] signal a non-disclosure settlement in trade for ‘hush cash,‘” which he stated prompted him to share the letter. Find his full assertion beneath.
Pitchfork has reached out to representatives for Afropunk for remark.
Source
