This past week, the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch joined P. Diddy and R. Kelly in being implicated in large sex trafficking operations. And honestly, as an elder millennial... it's weird. I’ve got core memories of singing along to every word of Ignition Remix and wearing my Abercrombie jacket on the way to high school.

(That jacket was the only thing at Abercrombie I could ever squeeze into because their sizing made it clear I wasn’t supposed to be associated with their brand if I wore a size 12 or larger.)

(Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

Now we know, some of those shirtless dudes on the shopping bags (which my peers would hang up like posters on their bedroom walls) were perhaps being groomed and exploited. 20 years later, to see the truth about some of these icons of my 'glory days'—it's heavy. It’s funky to realize how much harm was tied to some of this stuff.

But here’s the thing—we’re finally naming these crimes. We’re helping a new generation, including my kids, recognize that things like this are not okay. We’re making space for victims, and in this case men and boys, to come forward and be heard. And hopefully, they’ll see justice. That’s what matters now.

And for what it’s worth, Abercrombie & Fitch has grown, too. Today, they have sizing that would actually fit me and they’re addressing labor rights in their supply chain.

Thanks for being here and for being part of this. Thanks for helping create a culture where we no longer tolerate exploitation. Together, with the support of people like you, we’re creating those spaces where survivors can be safe and seen. You’re helping ensure that justice isn’t just a hope—it’s something we can strive toward for every victim.

READ RELATED ARTICLES