OXFORDSHIRE, United Kingdom — Top US casting director James Scully delivered an emotional address to global fashion leaders on Friday, in which he described the bullying, cruelty and racial discrimination that takes place at model castings.

Scully, who was speaking at VOICES, BoF's new annual gathering for big thinkers, was given a standing ovation for his impassioned plea to "support girls more and stop treating them like Tinder swipes."

"[The fashion industry is] so much more sadistic and so much more mean than you can believe," he said.

The audience included Joan Smalls, Hari Nef and Amber Valletta, all of whom admitted afterwards that they recognised the practices described in Scully's talk. "I think James brought great attention and light to truths that have been a part of the industry in my time and obviously still today," Valletta said on the VOICES stage the following day in an interview with BoF's editor-at-large, Tim Blanks.

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VOICES is BoF's new annual gathering for big thinkers, taking place from 1-3 December, in partnership with QIC Global Real Estate.