Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Anna Wintour

Public opinion and media debates around Anna Wintour—discover key moments of controversy.

Anna Wintour is a highly influential British-American media executive, renowned as the editor-in-chief of Vogue since 1988. She holds further leadership positions as global chief content officer of Condé Nast and global editorial director of Vogue, overseeing the company's publications worldwide. Instantly recognizable by her signature bob and sunglasses, Wintour is considered the most powerful woman in publishing. She's a significant figure in fashion, notably as the lead chairperson of the Met Gala since the 1990s. While lauded for her ability to spot emerging trends, she has also faced criticism regarding her perceived demanding personality.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

2002: Complaint about affair rumors

In 2002, Anna Wintour complained about allegations of getting her job through an affair with Si Newhouse when accepting a media award.

2002: Braunstein Planned to Kill Wintour

In 2002, Peter Braunstein allegedly planned to kill Anna Wintour because of perceived slights, after receiving only one ticket to the Vogue Fashion Awards.

2004: Court Ruling for Unpaid Workers' Compensation

In 2004, a court ruled that Anna Wintour and David Shaffer were to pay $104,403, and Wintour herself an additional $32,639, to settle a lawsuit brought against them by the New York State Workers' Compensation Board.

October 2005: Attacked with Tofu Pie in Paris

In October 2005, Anna Wintour was hit with a tofu pie while waiting to get into the Chloé show in Paris.

2005: Criticism by National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance

In 2005, Anna Wintour faced heavy criticism from the New York chapter of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance after Vogue editor-at-large André Leon Talley said on The Oprah Winfrey Show that Wintour demanded he lose weight.

2005: Reported Threats During The Devil Wears Prada Production

In 2005, during the production of "The Devil Wears Prada", Anna Wintour reportedly threatened fashion personalities that Vogue would not cover them if they appeared in the film.

2008: Pamela Anderson's Criticism

In 2008, Pamela Anderson said Anna Wintour was the living person she most despised "because she bullies young designers and models to use and wear fur."

2008: Milan Fashion Week Scheduling Controversy

In 2008, at Milan Fashion Week, Anna Wintour requested that some key shows be rescheduled for earlier in the week so she and other U.S.-based editors could have time to return home before the Paris shows, leading to complaints and accusations of prioritizing U.S. editors over Italian fashion.

2009: Minneapolis residents take umbrage

In 2009, Anna Wintour faced backlash from residents of Minneapolis after she told 60 Minutes she could "only kindly describe most of the people I saw as little houses."

2018: Falling-out with André Leon Talley

In 2018, Anna Wintour had a falling-out with André Leon Talley after he was discontinued as Vogue's Met Gala red carpet reporter, which was exposed in Talley's memoir released in May 2020.

May 2020: Release of André Leon Talley's Memoir

In May 2020, André Leon Talley released his memoir, "The Chiffon Trenches", which exposed his falling-out with Anna Wintour in 2018 after he was discontinued as Vogue's Met Gala red carpet reporter.