An American Apparel model's defense of the controversial CEO

this is definitely the best article i've ever read about dov. nice work.

Dov didn't need to give you any money; you've already been payed in boosts to your crumbling self-esteem.

why doesnt she get paid a residual every time it shows? Is it the standard one-year print contract of a certain amount? Is Dov industry standard or generous since they're models are more generously revealing? Did she get paid at all or just get a vibrator? Come back, little sheba and tell us how much you got for lubing up! Does a vertically integrated company put more verticality into your bank account? What up girl, yoko models and wants on that train...

He took/takes advantage. He's a sexist perv and this chick is brainwashed. Gross.

*PAID (pardon my spelling).

Answer the questions, claire!

Hey Claire, what was the flavor of that cool-aid? And also, How many vibrators would it take for me to get you naked??? Hip-tard.

Eh, she's not nearly as hot as she thinks she is, natch. And people with high self-esteem seldom feel the need to tell everyone about it.

"Anyone who thinks getting a guaranteed orgasm as a gift is gross is lying. Straight up lying."

I'm lying if I think it's gross that my boss gives me a vibrator?

"Yes, he is sexual. He is a man with a penis."

I'm a woman. I don't have a penis. Is it OK to be sexual? Men are SEXUAL! Women are NOT!

God, your gender stereotypes are B-O-R-I-N-G. For someone who (I'm assuming) envisions themselves as different/unique, your huge sweeping generalizations about men and women are pretty friggin' mainstream.

Hint: Use facts to support your arguments. Not 'Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus!" conclusions.

I wish she could write a little better, but an excellent first try! I'm sure this will make an excellent addition to your growing clips!

i'm having a little trouble running this sentence:
" I could not stop puking up the entire bottle of wine I downed the night before. I blame the friend because it was her birthday, although when I glimpse my protruding ribs on the back of L.A. Weekly weeks later, I'm secretly thankful for having nothing left in my stomach that day."
up against this one:
"You could think of Dov as a champion for positive body image. He likes his models happy and squishy, unlike the emaciated aliens of the runways."

YEAH, THIS GIRL IS SO STUPID AND BRAINWASHED AND HAS SUCH LOW SELF-ESTEEM SHE IS SO DUMB SHE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO VOICE A CONTRARY OPINION ABOUT SOMEONE THAT SHE KNOWS IN PERSON WHO I DON'T KNOW BUT AM CONVINCED IS SEXIST BASED ON THE FACT THAT I READ FOR A FACT HE WAS SEXIST AND A GROSS. SHE SHOULD SHUT UP AND STOP TALKING ABOUT HER OPINIONS BASED ON HER EXPERIENCES IN REALITY AND START READING MORE THINGS ON THE INTERNET FOR REAL.

Hey, fellow comment-posters: Maybe we should allow for the possibility that there exists a girl who enjoys being a sexy billboard, talks publicly about porn and orgasm, thinks a pervy guy is okay, and isn't acting out of some alleged lack of self esteem but instead, actually!, out of the strong sense of self-confidence 1) that she says she has, and 2) that she exhibits in all her actions.

Call me crazy, but I'd say Claire offers a better model of self-possession than most of the commenters here, whose opinions are great examples of condescending prudery.

I think this girl is missing the point. When AA launched, they made a huge fuss about how they were against the exploitation of anyone, especially those at the bottom of society. Now while Claire may be a strong, self actualized woman, many of the AA models are young, impressionable, most likely craving attention and not likely able to resist the quick cash (He often uses models working in his actual retail stores, and last time I checked, retail doesn't pay the bills.) It is a simple equation: Man with power uses women without power to get money, notoriety and sexual gratification. If there is even the slightest chance that his practices are exposing these girls to potential exploitation, then AA is going against the very moral standards that they themselves set.

it makes me really sad that a girl who pulled down her pants to get her first writing job still thinks that she has any "self-esteem". Girls who f*$# bosses for jobs are seen as sluts yet showing your tits and ass to a scummy dude you met 2 hours ago is OK because your doing it to prove everyone else wrong? I wonder how long he would've kept talking to you if you had been real revolutionary and kept your clothes on.

I heard he gives the models that don't sleep with him the good jobs. Maybe he appreciates the respect that they have for themselves. Not necessarily the "ho" who does "coke", but you know, has some sort of brain in their head, and while appreciating Dov's love for 19 year old girls who love clothes as much as they love themselves is important, so is intelligence.

That doesn't mean I'm underestimating your contribution to the people of LA and NYC and wherever else you get to live because your "involved" father handed you a credit card.

"any man who wants me to eat more is hands down fucking awesome"

Girl, you thinking a little, but not enough. A woman having a man who wants her to love her body shouldn't be a fucking nice bonus, it should be expected. And anyways, you contradict yourself when you say how happy you were you puked your guts out and had ribs showing during a photoshoot. I have respect for you, get your money and satisfaction any damn way you please. My problem is not with the models and whether or not they choose to have sex with Dov Charney (he aint that cute anyways though), it's with the sexist attitudes.

I love sex, free love people should be naked all the time! thats not the feeling i get from AA advertisements. I honestly think that they promote the objectification of women. Every add looks like a creepy rape scene for christs sake. All the models are beautiful women, but not in that sort of circumstance. Fuck american apparel i hate that shit so much.

Hmm, I quite enjoyed that article. It is interesting to see Dov Charney from another perspective (though I do so love Fred Armisen's impression of him).

"He likes his models happy and squishy, unlike the emaciated aliens of the runways." Squishy? I love it!

"I think my nearly naked ads on the back covers of your magazines and newspapers are funny. When I am old and my metabolism gives up on my steady diet of cheese popcorn and my once-glorious boobs are no longer perfect, at least I will have the proof that once upon a time I didn't go to the gym and I was still pretty fucking hot."

I like that attitude.