Did Anna Wintour ditch Edward Enninful?

Celebrity news

as if Sarah Nathan

July 1, 2023 | 8:00 am

It looks like one of the most famous scenes in “The Devil Wears Prada”.

When Edward Enniful announced in June that he was stepping down as editor-in-chief of British Vogue and taking on a new role at Condé Nast — Vogue’s global creative and culture consultant — the rumors started flying. Anna Wintour’s fingerprints all over it?

Wags compares it to his time in “The Devil’s Prada” as fearsome fashion editor Miranda Priestly found another role for her French nemesis Jacqueline Follett, who was vying for Miranda’s job.

The hit film was based on a 2003 novel by Lauren Weisberger – one of Wintour’s former assistants.

But some in the industry say it was a smart move to keep Enninful close to the fashion world’s fame.

Rumors have swirled for years that Enninful, 51, was plotting to become the next editor of American Vogue, potentially ousting Wintour in the process.

But at 73, Wintour, who has been at the helm of US Vogue for 34 years and global editorial director of Vogue issues around the world, has no plans to go anywhere — even as the magazine’s circulation continues to decline in this difficult media environment, her friends told Page Six.

“People have doubted Anna, tried to bring her down, and she’s amazing – she just keeps going,” said one person who knew her well.

Another source close to Wintour told Page 6: “She’s not going anywhere with Edward Hope and Anna’s dream of going!”

“Anna has no plans to retire,” a well-placed fashion source added, adding that her friends have told Wintour she needs to kick back and relax.

Announcing his departure, Enninful said Wintour was part of the decision to “play a broader role in improving Vogue globally.”

Still, some sources have insisted that Wintour did not step down to Enninful’s position, even though it removed him from his fame as editor-in-chief. During his tenure, British Vogue was celebrated for shining a light on diversity.

Ininiful’s first cover features supermodel Adwa Aboah, and he poses for Beyoncé and Rihanna – with baby boy – for the magazine.

During his reign, British Vogue debuted transgender model Ariel Nicholson.

Meghan Markle famously guest-hosted the much-criticized September 2019 issue. A Wintour source said: “Edward has put his wheels on Meghan Markle.

Alexandra Shulman, a former editor of British Vogue, is blunt: “It’s no secret that he’s sad and frustrated… He positioned himself and his vision as the intersection of white privilege that I was at Vogue.” But over the years I’ve learned that this kind of thing can happen.

But Shulman – In a 2016 BBC documentary about his strained relationship with Wintour, Enniful said: “He ended up playing a second love for Anna Wintour.”

As she wrote in the Daily Mail: “He’s been steamrolling over the rift with Wintour… but whether it’s true or not, he’s been reported to Multilevel with an announcement that he’ll be replaced as ‘Editorial Content Director’.” The ladder that ends in the New York office offers a death party for anyone who has done something precious about their work.

That ladder goes back to Wintour.

In the year In 2020, she was named global chief content officer at Conde Nast and global editorial director of Vogue, with full responsibility for all titles.

In the year Enninful was hired by Jonathan Newhouse, the chairman and former CEO of Condé Nast International, in 2017, though Wintour has said for sure, sources confirmed.

Signing on Vogue’s first black, gay editor “was a great testament to her,” said a well-placed fashion insider.

In the year In 2020, Wintour apologized for the rift between her staff and her magazine. “I want to be clear that I know Vogue has not done enough to elevate and empower black editors, writers, photographers, designers and other creators,” she wrote in an internal email first reported by Page 6. “We’ve also made mistakes by publishing images or stories that are offensive or intolerant.”

However, some black journalists who worked with Wintour said her memo was a ploy in response to the Black Lives Matters movement.

Vogue has been forced to deny a rift between Wintour and Ininiful after she was allegedly left in tears after taking the prime spot next to the late Queen Elizabeth at Richard Quinn’s runway show at London Fashion Week in February 2018. The first – and last – appearance at a fashion show.

“The Queen has never been to Fashion Week,” the fashion insider told Page 6. “It was a big deal, and Anna got the picture. Edward was blind. He was so upset with Anna, he was crying.”

On that day, Annie Full went to Milan for a meeting, reportedly with Gucci.

Page 6 can also confirm that Enninful refused to join Wintour for a joint interview with The New York Times.

Last September, Wintour deadpanned that she was “negotiating conflict” when she wondered what she would be doing with her life if she weren’t editor-in-chief of Vogue’s 73 Questions series.

“There is no hatred, no animosity between Anna and Edward, they always work together,” a source who knows Winton well emphasized.

The real big point is that Edward wants to do more… he sees himself as a celebrity.

Eneniful recently published a memoir, “A Man to See,” in which he describes his journey as the son of poor Ghanaian immigrants. His mother was a seamstress and he grew up helping her make clothes. This month, he posted a photo of a book cover posted on the Duomo in Milan.

A Wintour source said: “At the moment, Edward is limited to the deals he can accept due to Conde’s corporate policy.

“This is a clever way to keep him in the Vogue fold.”

Anniefull tried to shut down rumors of a conspiracy against Wintour last year, telling CNN: “I don’t want Anna’s job.”

Iniful has earned the nickname “Queen Mother” among British Vogue staffers for her diva-like behavior, which includes having her assistants go around meetings and hold glasses and apply eye drops, the Daily Beast reported.

There were claims that Enninful was served coffee by his aides at home on weekends, but the source revealed that he actually used a delivery service.

“I saw his assistant jump out of the car and run [corner stores] To get him sweets when he goes out to an event,” said a fashion editor.

Enninful counts Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss as his best friends. But sources told Page 6 that Campbell and Enninful briefly stopped talking when she thanked Wintour after she was honored with the Fashion Icon award at the British Fashion Awards in December 2020 — and she failed to mention Enninful, her friend of more than 30 years.

However, they are now back together and Campbell appeared on the cover of British Vogue in February 2022 with her daughter.

British Vogue is rumored to be taking over next year, as deputy editor Sarah Harris is rumored to be taking over – or Vogue.com editor Chioma Nadi, a prominent Londoner living in NYC, is said to be firmly on “Team Anna”.

“He will continue to contribute to the creative and cultural success of the Vogue brand globally, while having the freedom to take on broader creative projects,” Innifu wrote to staff.

Schulman said: “There’s no doubt he’ll be hired by big brands to create images with his trademark strong messaging, and with his high profile in six years at Vogue, he can command big bucks.” . Vogue, on the other hand, will have limited access to his distinctive credibility, and can call upon it when necessary. Such arrangements are not known to be very durable gigs on early evidence.

And as for Wintour, one fashion editor told Page 6 that she has “mellowed” with age. Another young fashion editor said: “She loves talking to young talent and I think that’s what keeps her going.