Graydon Carter to Exit Vanity Fair in December After 25-Year Reign as Editor

The longtime editor of Vanity Fair is stepping down in December.

“I want to leave while the magazine is on top,” Graydon Carter, who has served as the outlet’s editor for 25 years, told The New York Times, Thursday. “I want to leave while it’s in vibrant shape, both in the digital realm and the print realm. And I wanted to have a third act — and I thought, time is precious.”

While he wouldn’t name names, Carter told The New York Times he has an idea for who might take his place, and he’ll give suggestions to the bosses at Conde Nast. Adam Moss of New York Magazine and Janice Min of The Hollywood Reporter have been rumored as contenders for the coveted position.

“I want to make it really easy for the next person,” Carter said. “I care about this magazine. I don’t want it to go anywhere other than up.”

Carter has helped to establish Vanity Fair as a golden standard in Hollywood; the Vanity Fair Oscar Party remains one of the entertainment industry’s most coveted affairs, and he managed to make his White House Correspondent’s Dinner after party just as exclusive.

“The romance of the magazine business will continue, but it will be harder to maintain,” Carter said. “The next generation is much more entrepreneurial, because they have to be. I don’t think that’s a bad thing.”

Carter thought about leaving earlier this year, but the election of Trump inspired him to stay a little longer. He’s been jabbed on Twitter by Trump more than once — and those 42 negative tweets now act as decoration.

“So I blew up all the tweets and I framed them all. They’re all on a wall — this is the only wall Trump’s built — outside my office,” Carter told The New York Times. “There’s a space left for one more tweet to complete the bottom line. So if he does, I’m just going to call our framer, and say we need one more.”

“It should be a little bright spot in his administration,” Carter quipped. “And if he’s smart, he won’t say anything.”