But, as The New York Times claimed, “It is a stark change for a brand that not only long sold lingerie in the guise of male fantasy, but has also been scrutinized heavily in recent years for its owner’s relationship with the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and revelations about a misogynistic corporate culture that trafficked in sexism, sizeism and ageism.”

In 2020, scandal plagued the mall destination when The New York Times alleged that the company has a history of “misogyny, bullying and harassment, according to interviews with more than 30 current and former executives, employees, contractors and models, as well as court filings and other documents.”

A collective known as the Model Alliance issued a response, saying, “We stand with the courageous women who have come forward and shared their stories, despite fears of retaliation or harm to their careers.” De Cadenet signed the letter at the time, along with Christy Turlington Burns, Amber Valletta and more stars.

The year prior, E! News reported that the womenswear brand was facing numerous financial obstacles, including hefty competition from inclusive brands like Aerie and Savage x Fenty, which may have impacted its declining sales. 

The CFO of parent company L Brands, Stuart Burgdoerfer, announced in November 2019 that it was time for the Angels to hang up their bedazzled wings, because the televised fashion show was ending. “We’ll be communicating to customers, but nothing that I would say is similar in magnitude to the fashion show,” he said. “You can be sure we’ll be communicating with customers through lots of vehicles including social media and various, more current platforms, if you will.”