'Self' Magazine Apologizes to Cancer Survivor They Slammed for Wearing Tutu
"Self" magazine is under fire for using a photograph of a cancer survivor who ran a marathon in a tutu. The magazine has issued an apology for slamming the woman's attire in their regular column, the "BS meter."
"I am personally mortified," "Self" editor in chief Lucy Danziger told USA Today. "I had no idea that Monika had been through cancer. It was an error. It was a stupid mistake. We shouldn't have run the item."
Danziger's company contacted Monika Allen after seeing the photo of her running with a friend in the LA Marathon, both in tutus. The magazine wanted to use the photo but did not give a reason why, so Allen agreed and was shocked to learn how it was used and slammed.
The tutus hold special meaning for Allen, who runs the company, Glam Runners, which makes and sells the tutu and gives money to charity. She wore a tutu in the marathon, which had special meaning because it was the first that she was running since being diagnosed with brain cancer.
"The reason we were wearing those outfits is because this was my first marathon running with brain cancer," Allen told NBC. "I feel like we were misled in providing the picture. Had I known how the picture was going to be used, I wouldn't have wanted to send it."
She personally contacted "Self" magazine to tell her story and express her disappointment in the magazine. Allen has since received an apology directly from Danziger, who also donated to the charity Allen supports, Girls on the Run.
"Self" told NBC that they were sorry "for the association of her picture in any way other than to support her efforts to be healthy. Of course, if tutus make you run with a smile on your face or with a sense of purpose or community, then they are indeed worth wearing, for any race."
Since the fiasco, Allen has received much support in the form of tutu orders, Facebook messages, and donations to Girls on the Run of San Diego, her beloved charity. She told Yahoo! Shine that it was the one silver lining that came from the public shaming.
