Matilda Djerf responded to the backlash over a recent report that accused her of fostering a toxic work environment at her company, Djerf Avenue.

The 27-year-old entrepreneur addressed the allegations in a lengthy Instagram post on Tuesday, less than a week after Swedish broadcaster Aftonbladet published his bombshell exposé.

“I have been silent on social media for the past few days,” she wrote on a white screen.

“My top priority was to meet and talk to the Djerf Avenue team. I am fully aware that my words here are neither an answer nor a solution, but it is important to me to write this directly to you.”

Djerf said she was “truly sorry” to anyone she “hurt or let down,” given the report, which included statements from 11 current and former employees.

“When I founded Djerf Avenue, I never expected that the company would be what it is today, with so many team members and so much responsibility. I wasn’t ready,” she wrote.

“I had never led a team before, I had never built a company before, and under a lot of stress, high speed and naivety, I failed to be the leader and colleague I wanted to be along the way.”

The influencer reiterated how “sorry” she is for letting her team down, but insisted they will implement changes in the future.

“I wish my growth was faster. I really want to emphasize that I am very interested in doing everything right and continuing to grow.”

“We are constantly working to improve and develop the internal business, from new structures to be put in place to new initiatives,” she continued.

Djerf said she has already made “some important changes to improve the work culture” – such as hiring a “more experienced management team”, introducing “monthly anonymous surveys to collect feedback”, bringing in an “external organizational psychologist” and hiring additional HR professionals.

Looking ahead, the young CEO said she is “committed” to “becoming the best leader and colleague” she can be.

“I will learn and work to ensure that Djerf Avenue is a safe, inclusive place for everyone,” she concluded. “Finally, I would like to thank everyone who has had honest and transparent conversations with me over the last few days.”

Djerf did not address the merits of the allegations against her, which range from bullying to body shaming.

The social media star founded the Swedish fashion brand with her partner Rasmus Johansson in 2019 and grew sales from zero to $35 million in just four years.

According to Djerf Avenue’s website, the company is known for focusing on body inclusivity and diversity and is built on the ideals of “kindness, inspiration and respect.”

However, current and former employees painted a completely different picture, telling Aftonbladet that Djerf created a culture of “psychological terror.”

Workers told the outlet they were often left “crying” and “broken” and suffering from “panic attacks.”

The anonymous tipsters said Djerf’s mood affected her daily work and that she would attack employees indiscriminately.

“I have never been so afraid of a person in my entire life,” an anonymous employee told the publication. “She could scold you in front of the whole office.”

Others claimed the brand’s public values ​​were all a sham, suggesting the founder physically shamed his employees and models behind the scenes.

A staffer claimed that Djerf made fatphobic comments after seeing images of a plus-size model used in a campaign shoot.

“When the pictures were delivered, Matilda said they needed to be reworked because she looked so damn fat in those clothes, so we can’t show them,” the employee recalls.

Djerf also allegedly reserved a special restroom in her office for some of her “favorite colleagues.”

The influencer posted a message on the door that read, “Please do not use!!!”

But one day the sign fell and an employee used the toilet without permission. The employee was allegedly forced to scrub the toilet clean.

“She doesn’t even want to go to the same toilet as us employees,” said one woman. “We are not fellow human beings or colleagues for them.”

Djerf Avenue COO Pernilla Bonny confirmed that Djerf had her own separate toilet, but insisted it was only to ensure she “stays healthy”.

“Our office makes it possible to provide this solution without impacting other employees’ access to the facilities,” she said.

Although Bonny noted that “it may be perceived as discriminatory,” she said they are working to ensure the situation is “handled clearly and correctly in the future.”