At this stage, we've all seen Vogue Williams' most recent column in The Sunday World, but just in case you haven't, the model-turned-DJ took the opportunity to use her platform to discuss one of the biggest issues facing our society today – terrorism.
The model, whose column was placed beside an image of her posing in a bikini, said that she was shaken by the Manchester attack, and that it made her feel that 'we can no longer sit around and do nothing,' a sentiment shared by many who despaired of the attack which claimed the lives of 22 people, including children.
The 31-year-old has faced massive backlash from the article, with claims on social media that the star wanted a 'mass internment of Muslims.'
However, after reading the column in its entirety, Vogue makes approximately zero references to the internment of Muslims, but actually says she agrees with the internment of known terrorists.
In fact, the only reference to Muslims in the entire article comes from a description of a Muslim police chief, who is backing internment for terrorists and extremists.
'This is something that should be decided on by the people, but I certainly agree with it. The only way to stop these senseless attacks is to put any potential threats away,' she says, drawing on the opinion of Muslim former police chief, Tarique Ghaffur.
Vogue admits that she is aware that the internment of IRA members in Northern Ireland, 'when 2,000 alleged paramilitaries were held without trial in makeshift camps' did not work, she feels that some kind of action needs to be taken to remove the threat of terrorism before any more people are killed.
Her reference to the IRA internment has led to online cries for the model to 'pick up a history book,' which is fair enough.
While Vogue's opinion on internment may be misguided, she still has a right to give her thoughts on a matter which affects more and more people as time goes by.
I won't pretend to be a security expert (as some accuse Vogue of), so while I won't offer my opinion on her thoughts on the matter, I do think the backlash she has faced comes from a place of dismissal based on her stance as an influencer, that she can't possibly know what she's talking about.
I think it is excellent that Vogue has used her platform to discuss something other than makeup or clothes, as most influencers won't touch social or political issue topics for fear of no longer appealing to their target audience.
It is a step in the right direction for other social media icons, who are looked up to by thousands, to come out and say how they feel about important issues, rather than feeling pigeonholed into certain subjects for fear of causing controversy.
Yes, her opinion is considered wrong by the majority, as evident in the overwhelmingly negative response, but the 'stay in your lane' mentality isn't conducive to an open and engaging society where all opinions are heard, considered, and then (as in the case of Vogue) dismissed.
People are saying that Vogue isn't 'qualified' to speak on the subject because she doesn't have a PhD in security and defence, but if that's the case, then very few people on this planet do have the right to discuss a massive issue, based on education level.
Vogue has proven that she is 'woke' to social issue thanks to her docu-series Vogue Williams – On the Edge, in which she investigated issues like drugs, social anxiety, gender dysmorphia and the obsessiveness nature of beautification in society.
Last time I checked, Vogue isn't an addiction councillor, gender non-conforming or a plastic surgeon, so why is terrorism off the cards for her to discuss?
Her views have been described as 'totalitarian, oppressive and genuinely sinister,' which is grand – the majority agrees that her column wasn't for them – but opening a narrative about these issues is what is so important, in order to come up with better suggestions and solutions.
Clearly, the vast majority of us disagree with Vogue and are anti-internment, but what do we think should be done?
Yes, we're bloody mortified for Vogue and the reciprocation of her comments, but she should still be allowed to offer her perspective, despite her status as a woman, influencer, model, DJ etc…
As a society, we have considered her opinion and deemed it to be unsavoury, so let's find better recommendations now, moving forward.
