• L Brands CEO Les Wexner has ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the financier charged with sex trafficking.
• While Wexner cut ties with Epstein years ago and has not been accused of any wrongdoing, L Brands shares declined on news of the charge.
• Victoria’s Secret has struggled to stay relevant to consumers in the #MeToo era. 
• Watch L Brands trade live on Markets Insider.

Shares of L Brands slid as much as 5% on Tuesday as reports of ties between its CEO and Jeffrey Epstein — the financier charged with sex trafficking — came to light. 

Epstein was the money manager for L Brands CEO Les Wexner for years, and even bought his Manhattan mansion, Bloomberg reported on Monday. Court documents unsealed the same day revealed that federal prosecutors have charged Epstein with running a sex-trafficking operation. Wexner has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

Neither Wexner nor L Brands have spoken out about his prior connections with Epstein, with whom he has not been connected for more than a decade. Still, the ties between Epstein and Wexner are proving to be a drag on L Brands as it tries to reinvent its image to appeal to socially conscious consumers.   

RELATED: Take a look at every retailer that filed for bankruptcy in 2018:
17 PHOTOSEvery retailer who filed for bankruptcy in 2018See GalleryEvery retailer who filed for bankruptcy in 2018

A’gaci

Women’s apparel and accessories retailer A’Gaci filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January. 

Photo credit: Getty

Kiko USA

Cosmetics retailer Kiko USA Inc filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January.

Photo credit: Getty

Tops Markets

Tops Markets operates 174 supermarkets — called Tops Friendly Markets. The company filed for bankruptcy protection in February.

Photo credit: Getty

The Bon-Ton Stores

The Bon-Ton Stores owns multiple department store chains including Bon-Ton, Bergner’s, Boston Store, Carson’s, Elder-Beerman, Herberger’s, and Younkers. The company filed for bankruptcy in February.

Photo credit: Getty

Remington Outdoor

Remington filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March.

Photo credit: Getty

The Walking Company

The shoe seller The Walking Company, which operates 208 stores in the US, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March.

Photo credit: Getty

Claire’s

The jewelry chain Claire’s filed for bankruptcy in March.

Photo credit: Getty

Southeastern Grocers

Southeastern Grocers, the parent company of the grocery chains Winn-Dixie, Harveys and Bi-Lo, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March.

Photo credit: AOL

Nine West

Nine West Holdings filed for bankruptcy in April.

Photo credit: Getty

Bertucci’s

Italian casual-dining chain Bertucci’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April.

Photo credit: AOL

Rockport

The footwear brand filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May.

Photo credit: Getty

National Stores

The owner of the Fallas chain of discount stores filed for bankruptcy in August.

Photo credit: Facebook

Brookstone

Brookstone filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August.

Photo credit: Getty

Samuels Jewelers

Samuels Jewelers filed for Chapter 11 with an agreement for bankruptcy financing in August.

Photo credit: Facebook

Toys R Us

Toys R Us filed for bankruptcy in September.

Photo credit: Getty

Mattress Firm

Mattress Firm filed for bankruptcy in October.

Photo credit: PA

Sears

Sears filed for bankruptcy in October.

Photo credit: PA

See Gallery

L Brands is the parent company of Bath & Body Works and Pink, as well as Victoria’s Secret. The conglomerate has struggled to maintain the popularity of its Victoria’s Secret brand, which used to be the most famous lingerie retailer in the US. Sales have plummeted as customers have grown disenchanted with the brand. Analysts have also grown skeptical of the company’s future in the #MeToo era. 

It’s taken its toll on the company. The lingerie company lost 9% of its market share in the US between 2015 and 2018. This year, Victoria’s Secret has had said it will close 53 stores in North America, up from 30 store closings last year.

Pink, the brand focused on a younger demographic, has also struggled to keep its sales numbers afloat. Other brands such as American Eagle’s Aerie have boosted their market share by being more inclusive and advocating for body-positivity. ThirdLove, another brand, has also become increasingly critical of Victoria’s Secret. 

Shares of L Brands are up roughly 4% year-to-date.

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