Gigi Hadid Calls Kanye West a "Bully and a Joke" Following Targeted Instagram Posts

Gigi Hadid won't put up with bullies, even ones as notorious as Kanye West. On 3 Oct., fashion editor and stylist Gabriella Karefa-Johnson caught West's attention for criticising the "White Lives Matter" apparel he debuted at his Yeezy presentation during Paris Fashion Week. "The t-shirts this man conceived, produced, and shared with the world are pure violence. There is no excuse, there is no art here," Karefa-Johnson wrote on her Instagram story following the show. In retaliation, West posted several photos of Karefa-Johnson directly on his Instagram page, mocking her fashion and writing that she is not someone to be taken seriously.

Having befriended and collaborated with Karefa-Johnson in the past, Hadid quickly came to her defence on social media. "You wish u had a percentage of her intellect," she wrote underneath one of West's posts. "You have no idea haha…. If there's actually a point to any of your sh*t she might be the only person that could save u. As if the 'honour' of being invited to your show should keep someone from giving their opinion ..? Lol. You're a bully and a joke." Hadid also posted on her own Instagram story, writing that Karefa-Johnson is "one of the most important voices" in fashion, contrary to what West said on his own platforms.

In response to such a public attack against their global fashion editor at large, Vogue also issued a formal statement in support of Karefa-Johnson, saying, "Vogue stands with Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, our global fashion editor at large and longtime contributor. She was personally targeted and bullied. It is unacceptable. Now more than ever, voices like hers are needed and in a private meeting with Ye today she once again spoke her truth in a way she felt best, on her terms."

West has since deleted the original posts he made about Karefa-Johnson, and shared more information about the "private meeting" Vogue alluded to in their post. "GABBY IS MY SISTER. IM NOT LETTING PEOPLE GO TO BED THINKING I DIDN'T MEET WITH GABRIELLE AT 5 PM TODAY FOR 2 HOURS THEN WE WENT TO DINNER AT FERDIE," he wrote on his Instagram. "WE APOLOGIZED TO EACH OTHER FOR THE WAY WE MADE EACH OTHER FEEL WE ACTUALLY GOT ALONG AND HAVE BOTH EXPERIENCED THE FIGHT FOR ACCEPTANCE IN A WORLD THAT'S NOT OUR OWN," West continued, adding that the entire meeting was filmed by Baz Luhrmann, and is currently being edited.

"SHE DISAGREED I DISAGREED WE DISAGREED," he said, concluding that, "AT LEAST WE BOTH LOVE FERDIE AND FASHION." In perhaps a further insult, Hadid commented underneath the post, writing "It's Gabriella*" in reference to the mispelling of her name. Ultimately, it's up to Karefa-Johnson to decide whether or not West's apology is enough to undo the hurt he's caused.