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A former Vogue stylist has sharply criticized the New York Times for publishing images of two white women playing Mahjong as part of an article promoting their small business.
Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, 34, who left Vogue in 2023 following an anti-Israel post after the October 7 attacks, has become a notable presence on social media as both a stylist and a progressive activist.
Last month, she caught public attention when she opted to downgrade from first class to avoid being surrounded by white men during a flight to Milan.
On Wednesday, Karefa-Johnson took to Threads to voice her disapproval of a New York Times article showcasing the two women playing Mahjong.
“The absolute audacity… Is this some kind of gentrification parody? Mahjong is a nearly 200-year-old Chinese game, deeply rooted in community and social gatherings. It’s not just about randomly placing a game on the table,” she commented.
‘This is one of the most blatant examples of cultural theft masquerading as “innovation” I’ve seen in a while.Â
‘The way that these women so confidently think they’re doing something is…. wow. NYT never ceases to amaze in who they choose to platform and why.’
The photos Karefa-Johnson shared are from a New York Times article looking at how interior designers are incorporating board games and puzzles into decor.
Former Vogue stylist Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, 34, slammed the New York Times for featuring images of two white women playing Mahjong while promoting their small business
The two women are Megan Jett Trottier, founder and chief executive of Oh My Mahjong, a lifestyle brand that sells Mahjong sets, and her interior designer, Ro Rynd.
‘Mahjong is becoming this beautiful way of hosting – not just slapping a game on a table,’ Trottier told the newspaper.Â
Trottier launched her company in 2022 and surpassed $30 million in annual revenue in October.
According to the company website, Trottier started playing Mahjong in college and rekindled her love for it during the COVID-19 pandemic.Â
‘She saw the game as a way to unite her community and introduce people to its magic,’ the website states.
‘As her passion for Mahjong deepened, it sparked a brilliant idea to create her own product line that paid tribute to the game’s rich heritage.’
Oh My Mahjong’s website also notes that the company honors Mahjong’s roots by incorporating traditional Chinese symbols and designs.
Karefa-Johnson, an outspoken fashion designer and commentator, first hit the spotlight when she became the first black woman to style a Vogue cover in 2021.
The women in the photos are Megan Jett Trottier (pictured), founder and chief executive of Oh My Mahjong, a lifestyle brand that sells Mahjong sets, and her interior designer, Ro Rynd
Karefa-Johnson (pictured with New York City First Lady Rama Duwaji on February 15) quit Vogue in 2023 after posting an anti-Israel rant in the wake of the October 7 massacre
During her tenure as contributing editor-at-large of the fashion outlet, she got into a public feud with Kanye West after the rapper launched ‘White Lives Matter’ apparel in 2022.
When Karefa-Johnson criticized the fashion launch, she hit out at the rapper for his ‘deeply offensive, violent and dangerous’ politics.
West reacted with scorn, ridiculing her outfits online and saying she had no understanding of fashion.
Karefa-Johnson said that the experience left her facing ‘fat phobia’ from social media, saying she was hit by ‘people talking about my body and the way I look.’
A year later, the designer made headlines again as she dramatically quit Vogue after delivering a hateful anti-Israel rant following the Hamas October 7 terrorist attacks.
Karefa-Johnson sparked outrage with her response to the horror attacks that killed more than 1,400 Israelis, as she accused Israel of committing ‘genocide’ and comparing the IDF to a ‘terrorist organization.’
‘It’s so disappointing to see the utter lack of understanding of the basic tenets and tactics of colonization, and one’s willingness to justify and defend those systems which have only ever oppressed,’ she posted on her Instagram at the time.
‘Damn. I hate when Instagram shows me what I hope I never know about the people I follow and their horrifying belief systems,’ she added to the post.
She quit the fashion outlet over the controversy, and abruptly changed her Instagram bio from ‘global contributing editor-at-large for Vogue’ to simply ‘many things.’
The Daily Mail contacted representatives for Karefa-Johnson, Trottier and Oh My Mahjong, and The New York Times for comment.Â