American Apparel is firing based on looks

[Sgent]

http://gawker.com/5323472/we-predict-more-lawsuits-in-dov-charneys-future

Here's a shocker: According to a tipster, American Apparel's pervy madman CEO, Dov Charney, is demanding the firing of employees he deems unattractive and thus detrimental to the "AA aesthetic," as he feels they may be hurting his bottom line.

Here's the text of an email we received tonight from a pissed-off American Apparel store manager:

Our company holds weekly conference calls that every store manager world/nation wide are required to tune into. We discuss sales, which stores need displays, which items are doing well, etc.

Summer is supposed to be a great sales season for AA. Needless to say, with the state of the economy, sales haven't been going so well. Dov usually gets on the conference calls and talks to people, but one week, he went on a huge tirade and made stores that weren't doing well send in group photos. Why, you ask? He made store managers across the country take group photos of their employees so that he could personally judge people based on looks. He is tightening the AA 'aesthetic,' and anyone that he deems not good-looking enough to work there, is encouraged to be fired. This is blatant discrimination based on looks.

[Hugabear]

1. I think a baseball bat might affect this asshole's looks - would he have to resign in that case?

Just sayin'

[MADem]

2. Not that I buy their shit, but it gives me incentive to tell others to give them a miss, too. NT

[Cronus Protagonist]

3. I believe he's within his rights to do this

Ugly people are not a protected class.

[dsc]

5. He could find himself in trouble depending on what his tastes are

If he finds only white folk attractive that could be a problem for his company to give one example.

[Cronus Protagonist]

7. No, I understand he prefers Asian chicks

I've read that he dates his models, and they're like Benetton Colors of the World, mostly Asian chicks though.

[smalll]

9. He's a horrible man, but no, he doesn't only like whites -- he's a hipster asianophiliac.

Plus, a lot of his other models are generally darker and unpinpointably ethnic.

He's still a raging douchebag, nevertheless. Google "Claudine Ko" "Dov Charney" interview. As long as you're not eating at the moment.

[madfloridian]

4. Isn't that the company that stood up to the anti-gay groups over a t-shirt?

Progressive Puppy had an article up about how they were not backing down over attacks from the anti-gay groups over a t-shirt that said "legalize gay."

The site was down but here is a link.

That doesn't jibe with what is in the OP. Confused.

http://www.progressivepuppy.com/the_progressive_puppy/2009/07/american-apparel-stands-up-to-homobigots.html

[dsc]

8. actually it can jibe

gays can be very lookist when we want to be. I am deeply disappointed in them though.

[madfloridian]

10. Well, the stance sounded pretty tough to me with all the threats they got.

But I guess that really doesn't matter.

[dsc]

11. It matters, I am proud of them for standing up to that bigotry

but that doesn't give them carte blanche to engage in other bigotry. I hope this isn't true but it sounds like something stores like this would do.

[bluestateguy]

6. The DZ sorority at DePauw University did this recently

The women from National descended upon this small town Indiana school and got rid of any girl that wasn't thin, blonde and pretty.

[lurky]

12. "I saw your picture and I haven't decided"

"if you are hot enough to work here. Please send some closeups so I can get a better idea. Oh, and wear something sexy. If I'm still not sure, I may need you to come to L.A. for a one-on-one 'hotness evaluation'.

(Actual picture of Dov Charney.)

[dsc]

He is amazingly unstylish

I am no fashionista but I dress much better than he does when I go to work.

[imdjh]

14. it gets worse

[Maru Kitteh]

15. That photo should have come with a warning. BBBLUUU...OOOO....VOMIT.

[dsc]

16. I'll warn you now about post 14 then

[madrchsod]

13. over priced clothes for those who think they are hip....

oh well...there`s a sucker born every minute