The battle between symbols.
Anna Wintour and Naomi Campbell are embroiled in a feud after the 74-year-old “Vogue” editor slammed the British supermodel, 54, for allegedly arriving late to Fashion Row’s Fashion Show and Style Awards in Harlem, New York, on Tuesday night.
Wintour came on stage to present Campbell with the Fashion Icon Award, but she was clearly upset that Campbell hadn't yet arrived at the event.
“I am a very punctual person and I have the honor tonight of performing for a man who is often late.” Wintour said And the crowd started laughing.
Wintour left after her speech.
A source familiar with the matter told The Post that Campbell was not actually late to the event. She was scheduled to speak at 7:27 p.m. and arrived at the event at 7:26 p.m., while Wintour's speech began at 7:15 p.m.
The insider added that Campbell and her team arrived at the venue just as Wintour was leaving.
According to the source, Wintour wanted to leave early so she could attend the US Open. Wintour was photographed at the tennis tournament with her daughter Bea Shaffer on Tuesday.
The source said Wintour's departure was “disappointing” for the three young designers who were at the event and had been hoping Wintour would see their designs displayed.
The insider also clarified that Campbell didn't know what Wintour said about her, but she did know that Wintour left early when it was her time to speak.
After a second introduction from Harper's Bazaar editor-in-chief Samira Nasr, Campbell came to the stage and his speech to hit back at Wintour.
“Yeah, Naomi is always late,” Campbell said, “but I believe in my higher power, and I want to thank my higher power for getting me here.”
“It's very important that I'm here today, and I'm honored to be here in Harlem. Everything will be as it should be. It wasn't my choice to have another woman. I would have preferred that,” she said, pointing to Nasr.
The crowd burst into laughter and was left speechless at Campbell's “other woman” comment, which was a reference to Wintour.
The supermodel also said, “I have to speak my truth.” “I've always been honest, right? So why would I change that at my age?”
The Post has contacted representatives for Wintour and Campbell for comment.
Despite the obvious shade, Wintour and Campbell praised each other in their respective speeches.
“Naomi is honestly one of the most fearless people I know, a quality that became apparent early on in her career when she began speaking the truth about inequality and injustice, at a time when it wasn't so common to do so,” Wintour said.
“The entire fashion industry has benefited from Naomi's bravery,” the Met Gala chairperson said. “I can tell you, though, that tapping into that fearlessness is — oh, what can I say? Quite exciting. But it's her honesty that makes her so incredible, an inspiration and a source of motivation for designers.”
In her speech, Campbell praised Wintour for “taking the time to come and give me this award even though I wasn't here.”
“So thank you, Anna Wintour, for your support of my career since 1987, for meeting me as a young black girl from south London in the offices of British Vogue and giving me the opportunity to shoot,” Campbell continued. “And so I also thank you for your influence and your continued support in moving fashion forward.”
