• by Melynda Fuller , June 8, 2020

Refinery29 cofounder and global editor in chief Christine Barberich announced she will step down from her post in an effort to make room for more diversity in leadership at the brand.

Barberich announced her decision in an Instagram post, writing she’s “read and taken in the raw and personal accounts of Black women and women of color regarding their experiences inside our company at Refinery29.”

She continued: “We have to do better, and that starts with making room. And, so I will be stepping aside in my role at R29 to help diversify our leadership in editorial and ensure this brand and the people it touches can spark a new defining chapter. A chapter that demands a new voice — both for our team and our audience — one that can shape and guide the critical stories that have the real power to shift and disrupt our culture, helping to eliminate institutional barriers that separate us and hold our society back.”

The post goes on to state the company will begin its search for a new global editor in chief immediately.

“It's time for a new generation of leadership that’s truly reflective of the diversity of our audience with divergent points of view, one that builds and expands on our original mission to amplify and celebrate a wide range of voices, perspectives, and stories ... stories that need and deserve to be told,” wrote Barberich.

Barberich’s announcement follows a series of complaints about the company’s lack of diversity and hostile work environment by women of color who are former employees.

Those complaints include a failure to address regularly occurring microaggressions toward employees of color from management, forcing writers to pen apologetic posts to white readers and pushing them to go on Fox News shows, such as "Tucker Carlson Tonight."

On Thursday, Refinery29 leadership issued a formal statement acknowledging those experiences and claiming it would do more to “build new pathways for change.” The Refinery29 union responded in a series of tweets calling for “drastic and immediate action.”