Anna Wintour Late, Naomi Campbell

Naomi Campbell and Anna Wintour shared a seemingly tense moment on the eve of New York Fashion Week.

The 58-year-old British supermodel was honored with the Style Icon Award at the 17th Annual Harlem Street Fashion Show and Style Awards on Tuesday, September 3, in New York City. When Wintour, 74, introduced, Fashion According to a video shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), the editor-in-chief said she was “giving a presentation tonight to people who are always late.”

Wintu subsequently referred the matter to the Harper’s Bazaar, Who presented the award to Campbell. According to TMZ, Wintour dropped out early to compete in the U.S. Open.

Campbell appeared to echo Wintour’s belated remarks during his acceptance speech. “I want to say this. Everything should happen the way it’s going to happen,” she told the crowd. “It’s not my choice to have another woman. I’d rather have this,” Campbell said, pointing to Nasr.

In footage of the event, audience members can be heard gasping.

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Despite the criticism, Wintour also pointed out many of Campbell’s positive attributes during her speech. She said the model was “bold, smart and unmistakably herself,” according to USA Today.

Wintour also said of the honoree: “Naomi is honestly one of the most fearless people I know, a quality that was evident at the very beginning of her career when she started saying no. The truth about equality and injustice.

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According to USA Today, she continued: “The entire fashion industry has benefited from Naomi’s bravery. But, I can tell you, being on the receiving end of that fearlessness can be — oh, what can I say? Quite. Exciting? But it’s her honesty that makes her a fixture in the fashion world.

Campbell had some kind words for Wintour in return. The model thanked the editor for taking the time to “come here and give me the award even though I wasn’t there” and for launching her career.

“So, Anna Wintour, thank you for supporting my career starting in 1987, by meeting a young black girl from South London in the British Vogue offices and giving me a chance to shoot,” she said. “So I’m grateful for your influence and your continued support of pushing fashion forward.”