Leona Lewis Reveals How Designer Michael Costello Humiliated Her at 2014 Charity Event

Leona Lewis is speaking out to share the humiliating experience she had in 2014 while working with fashion designer Michael Costello.

The “Bleeding Love” singer spoke out one day after Michael accused Chrissy Teigen of bullying him and trying to blacklist him from the fashion community.

Leona revealed that Michael was supposed to dress her to walk in a charity fashion show and that when she arrived for the fitting, he refused to alter the dress to fit her. The night before the fashion show, he abandoned his commitment to dress her and she had to sit in the audience during the event while all the other celebs walked the runway. (You can see photos from that event in the gallery)

Leona expressed how she’s sorry to see what Michael went through and she’s not trying to discount his experience, but she doesn’t believe we should knock people down when they’re showing remorse for their actions.

“We all make mistakes, I know I have, but at this time I feel that when people apologize (Chrissy) and show sincere remorse and rehabilitation for their actions, we should embrace them and not try and kick them when they’re down,” Leona said.

Click inside to read Leona Lewis’ full open letter about her experience with Michael Costello…

Keep reading to check out the full open letter written by Leona Lewis…

I usually don’t speak on subjects like this. But honestly I feel that I have to say something as I’ve dealt with years of insecurity from it. I don’t condone any kind of bully behavior and I’m sorry for what Michael Costello went through. I wanted to share my experience in 2014. I was asked to take part in a fashion show to raise money for charity. Michael Costello was assigned as my designer. As an excited young woman, I flew all the way to New York and was so honored to work with him because I adored his dresses.

When I got to my fitting I was made to feel very awkward and uncomfortable as the dress was a sample size and he/his team clearly did not want to alter it to fit me. This came as a total surprise because weeks prior I was told that they would make the dress work for me. At the next fitting, the night before the show, with no explanation at all, Michael refused to turn up. He no longer wanted to dress me and he abandoned his commitments to me and the show which made me well aware that I wasn’t the body type required.

I was so embarrassed and deeply hurt. Because I didn’t look like a model size, I was not permitted to walk in his dress. I had to sit in the audience and was asked by press why I didn’t walk in the show. I remember having to come up with excuses as I was so humiliated by it all. I feel like I was made to look as though I pulled out and was being difficult and as an affect of those actions I suffered a lot, both personally and professionally. The most hurtful thing is that it was to raise money for charity, and this went against everything we were trying to do.

I was left with deep insecurities after this and I’ve had to work hard over the years to love my body. I’m so proud of how curves are celebrated today but back then it was a different story and there was hardly any representation for women who were not a standard small size. I know that his designs are catered to women of all sizes now, and I’m glad he saw the light over the years. We all make mistakes, I know I have, but at this time I feel that when people apologize (Chrissy) and show sincere remorse and rehabilitation for their actions, we should embrace them and not try and kick them when they’re down.

I’m not discounting Michael’s experience as that is an awful thing to go through and I wish him so much love and healing. I’m sure this will come as a shock as I never told him how this made me feel. But the pot calling the kettle black in this situation doesn’t sit right with me. Bullying comes in many different forms. We need love, we need accountability, we need forgiveness, none of us are perfect.

We are trying our best and learning. I’m sorry for anyone who has gone through any kind of bullying, I’m also sorry if I’ve ever hurt anyone without knowing it as I’m sure was the case with Michael.