Edward Enninful has insisted his career at British Vogue ended “the way I wanted it to end” amid rumors that fashion stalwart Anna Wintour forced him out of his role.
Enninful, who was editor of the magazine from 2017 until this month, published its final issue last month after it was announced in June 2023 that he would step down.
The former British-Ghanaian model’s tenure at British Vogue was considered more progressive than any editorial direction that had preceded it, as it saw the first transgender model, Paris Lees, grace the cover. He also oversaw the production of braille and audio editions of the magazine for visually and hearing impaired readers.
However, despite Enninful suggesting he might want to replace Wintour as editor-in-chief of Vogue one day, it was abruptly announced last year that he would step down in early 2024. He has been replaced by Chioma Nnadi, the first woman black in editing the magazine.
As he embarks on a new project curating an exhibition of the works of photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, Enninful refused to be carried away by rumors of a “power struggle” between him and Wintour, which he dismissed as “gossip”.
Edward Enninful has refused to comment on rumors that he was ousted from his position as editor of British Vogue following a “power struggle” with Anna Wintour.
She said, “It ended the way I wanted it to end,” speaking of her final days in the top job at British Vogue.
Rumors began circulating last year that Enninful, who had been vocal that he would one day like to replace Wintour as Vogue’s global editorial director, had been caught in a power struggle with the fashion matriarch.
At the time, a Vogue insider said: ‘He made no secret that he wanted the big job (global editorial director), but he hit the glass ceiling and had gone as far as he could.
Enninful’s tenure at the magazine had been one of the most progressive ever and he made no secret that he might one day want to succeed Wintour as global editorial director.
‘She thought she would be in London for a few years and then head to New York, but now she knows she will never get Anna’s job at Condé Nast.
‘Anna is the undisputed boss. She has surpassed many rivals and continues to do so. She could swat him like a fly.
However, speaking about the rumours, Enninful said: “I don’t comment on gossip, I never have.”
Another fashion source at the time said: “I think Edward underestimated (Wintour’s) power. He had so much smoke blown up his arse when he was appointed editor that he couldn’t see his own pants.
The Mail on Sunday revealed last year that she threatened to resign unless she was given Wintour’s job by the end of 2022. That, of course, never happened.
As a result, a source said Enninful’s move to another role within Condé Nast was a “power struggle.”
‘Edward presented his new vision against the old Vogue… and lost. Succession (the hit TV drama about a toxic media family) has nothing to do with this,” they said.
There are reports of hot disputes between the couple and a source said simmering bad blood boiled over when Enninful planned to make the magazine gender neutral.
“This was too much,” the source said. Another Vogue source added: “There would be differences of opinion. Wintour was saying, ‘Don’t listen to Edward,’ and he was saying, ‘Don’t listen to Anna.'”
Known as ‘Nuclear Wintour’ and famous for her sleek bob and dark sunglasses, she has a reputation as the demanding titan of the industry.
Vogue insiders called Enninful the only “real threat” to their power. Insiders whispered that the pair are “not speaking”, with a source saying five years ago: “I don’t think she ever felt he was qualified for that role.”
Back in 2018, there had been speculation that Enninful’s position at British Vogue was only temporary and that he would succeed Wintour when she retired.
But he said in an interview: “Everyone wants to know what I’m doing, but I’d like to tell them that I don’t want Anna’s job.” I talked to her about this a few weeks ago.
When Enninful leaves Vogue and is replaced by Nnadi, who is currently the editor of the US edition’s website, she will be given the title of “head of editorial content” with a focus on “digital storytelling.”
Crucially, Enninful’s integral role as editor-in-chief will no longer exist. Instead, Ms. Nnadi will likely have to report to a multi-step staircase that will end at the New York office.
Fashionistas today compared the change to scenes from The Devil Wears Prada, the adaptation of the famous book about Wintour, in which Miranda Priestley places her rival Jacqueline Follet in a prominent role to prevent her from getting her own job.
Nnadi credits his Nigerian father for igniting his passion for fashion, saying he only remembers him wearing suits and taking off his tie on the weekends.
Speaking from her home in New York, Ms Nnadi said: ‘Is there pressure? Yes, there’s definitely pressure: it’s Vogue.
“Being in Vogue still means something, it still has authority. (Edward) broke new ground. It’s more than being part of a magazine: it’s part of the cultural conversation.”