There's a fine line between poking fun in the name of satire and taking a joke way too far. A recent feature in society glossy Avenue is getting called out for the latter after some very careless wordplay seemed to communicate an antisemitic slur.
Beloved interior designer Sasha Bikoff, known for her bright and colorful plays on design, was included in the magazine's satirical spotlight of "decorators from hell." The illustrated depiction appeared to point to her notable staircase takeover of the Kips Bay Decorator Show House, calling her "The Mayor of Stairs."
While that could have remained a harmless joke, a play on her name, "Masha Kikoff" (pronounced with a long I), pretty clearly includes the K-word, an ugly slur. Whether or not the result was intentional, the thoughtless inclusion was offensive to say the very least.
Bikoff, who is Jewish, took to Instagram to call out the mag for the satire tinged with antisemitism. Click through for the rundown from her stories.
[Photo via @sashabikoff]