Controversy Surrounds New Yorker Staffer Doreen St. Felix

Doreen St. Felix, a staff member at The New Yorker, recently faced backlash after her previously published social media posts resurfaced. These posts included racially charged comments, and accusations aimed at actress Sidney Sweeney, whom she had labeled an “Aryan Princess.” Following the uproar, she deleted her social media accounts.

In her comments on X, previously known as Twitter, St. Felix expressed extreme sentiments such as, “The whiteness fills me with a lot of hatred,” and controversially claimed, “The Holocaust is the worst thing that happens to black people.” These inflammatory remarks date back to 2014, coinciding with her hiring by the left-leaning magazine under editor David Remnick.

St. Felix’s deletion of her account occurred after criticism arose from users, including conservative journalist Chris Rufo, who shared screenshots of her earlier posts. Just recently, St. Felix critiqued Sweeney’s American Eagle campaign in a lengthy article published on August 2, suggesting that fans aimed to employ her image as a “kind of Aryan princess.”

This ad drew considerable criticism, particularly from those who felt that Sweeney’s portrayal was problematic. Yet, it appears that the attention has shifted back to St. Felix, as many have begun to scrutinize her past statements.

One notable tweet from December 2014 targeted white men, and her previous commentary often revealed a prolonged focus on racial issues. For instance, she made remarks implying that poor white hygiene historically contributed to the spread of diseases like bubonic plague and syphilis.

St. Felix has expressed concerns about “white capitalism” and its impact on the environment, even referencing the Holocaust in contexts that sparked further outrage. In some posts, she controversially suggested that discussions about the Holocaust were used by white individuals to evade accountability for their racial identity.

While her recent articles resonated with racial themes stemming from tensions highlighted during events like the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, her own living circumstances—reported to be a $1.3 million property in Brooklyn—have led to criticisms of hypocrisy regarding her stances against capitalism.

St. Felix, who has contributed to various publications including Vogue and was part of the “30 Under 30” media list by Forbes, has not publicly responded since deleting her accounts. Her writings have generated significant discussions, yet this latest controversy may overshadow her previous accolades.