WATCH: Aaron Rose Philip Says ‘Whiteness’ Is Keeping Other Black-Trans-Disabled Models Oppressed

The concept of runway modeling has changed dramatically over the past few decades, with far more body types gracing the runway these days than in the fashion industry of yesteryear.

But as inclusive as the business has gotten, it’s not enough to stop some critics from blaming White people.

After an attention-grabbing appearance at the recent Met Gala, Black/trans/disabled runway model Aaron Rose Philip gained some name recognition overnight. And it also resulted in some controversial prior remarks resurfacing to significant social media scrutiny:

Aaron Rose Philip blames "whiteness" for a lack of trans + black + disabled models on runways pic.twitter.com/EH1NbWGt4z

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) May 5, 2026

As News18 reported, this year’s Met Gala went down as the most inclusive yet, thanks in part to Philip’s participation:

The inclusivity of the 2026 Gala extended beyond aesthetic choices to historic “firsts.” Aaron Rose Philip, the first Black transgender woman with quadriplegic cerebral palsy to be signed by a major agency, made a landmark appearance. Her presence on the carpet served as a visceral reminder that the fashion industry’s core narrative is shifting from fringe conversations to central action.

By moving away from a single aesthetic and toward a “multiplicity of forms,” the 2026 Met Gala has signaled that fashion is no longer just about the clothes—it is about the dignity of the person wearing them. The exhibition, which opens to the public on May 10 and runs through January 10, 2027, invites the world to see the body not as a flaw to be corrected by clothing, but as the ultimate work of art.

One can argue whether this shift in the fashion industry has been positive or not, but there’s no question that many people clearly had a problem with Philip’s thoughts about why there aren’t even more examples:

Anyone else feel like they're trapped in an episode of South Park?

— The🐰FOO (@PolitiBunny) May 5, 2026

pic.twitter.com/eE7eQePGcP

— Sara Rose 🇺🇸🌹 (@saras76) May 5, 2026

Some thought the story warranted a revisitation of some commentary Ben Shapiro provided a few years ago:

A masterclass from @benshapiro in 2018 pic.twitter.com/ImFCkPzfHC

— Mark (@rhapsodyboard1) May 5, 2026

Here’s the takeaway from Townhall‘s Amy Curtis:

Okay, that made us chuckle. All you can do is laugh at the absurdity of it all. As we noted yesterday, we hope this means the DEI nonsense has finally jumped the shark. In the real world, there are just some things people aren’t meant to do. This writer will never play in the NBA, and Philip was not a model because that’s not a career path conducive to someone with his disabilities. This is not bigotry or discrimination or caused by “whiteness.” It’s just reality.

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Here’s some additional commentary from Sky News: