Sexual Misconduct Allegations in the Fashion Industry

[ThatDudeOverTher]

I'm waiting for my dream crush Chad White to come out with some hot tea. He's been photographed in some positions by Weber, too.

Not gonna happen, so don't hold your breath.

 

[Benn98]

Only just saw the video of Boyce at the press conference. Truly heartbreaking to have to witness such sadness in a man! Couldn't actually finish it, too uncomfortable. I hope he'll seek psychological therapy.

As for that white haired, heave-inducing biker, hope he'll get nailed to the wall. There's a special place in hell for truly despicable men like him.

 

[TREVOFASHIONISTO]

Working as photographer,I noticed many of them make pictures just for trying to touch the model it happens everywhere

yeah when I was working at a modeling agency, we would be contacted by these "photographers" that clearly just wanted to work with male models so they could get them to take their clothes off. its disgusting

 

[Sensation]

Weber Denies All Allegations of Wrongdoing in Answer to Complaint

Bruce Weber denied all of male model Jason Boyce’s allegations of wrongdoing Thursday in an answer to a complaint filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York.

On Dec. 1, the plaintiff Boyce filed a complaint against Weber in the New York State Supreme Court for allegedly forcing him to rub his own genitals, along with other allegations.

Weber’s response, filed Thursday afternoon, stated: “Bruce Weber denies plaintiff’s allegations in the strongest of terms. They are false. With the support and encouragement of irresponsible counsel, plaintiff and his counsel conducted a defamatory press conference that spread plaintiff’s false and unproven allegations against Mr. Weber around the world, without any regard for any form of due process, let alone fundamental facts or fairness. As a result, this case is already a travesty of justice. Defendants will prevail, but how does Mr. Weber get his reputation back?”

Weber denied all Boyce’s allegations about what transpired during the fashion shoot in the model’s complaint, ranging from Weber allegedly asking Boyce to take off his pants to the photographer rubbing oil on his forehead and making Boyce extremely uncomfortable, to Weber asking Boyce to put his hands on himself and rub his own genitals.

Weber is looking to dismiss the complaint in its entirety — with prejudice — and asks that the defendants be awarded costs and disbursements associated with this action, including reasonable attorneys’ fees to the maximum extent allowed by law. Weber and Little Bear, Inc.’s attorney is Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP.

Weber couldn’t be reached for comment.

As reported, in the Dec. 1 complaint, Boyce alleged to have suffered from being sexually harassed and discriminated against on the basis of his gender. “Boyce was the victim of ‘casting couch’ practices by the defendants, upon information and belief, are prevalent in the modeling industry, and suffered humiliation, emotional anguish and lost economic opportunities, including the end of his modeling career in New York,” the complaint stated. In addition to Weber, the 19-page document named Jason Kanner, Soul Artist Management and Little Bear Inc. Kanner is the founder and head of Soul Artist Management, which represented Boyce at the time of the incident in December 2014. Little Bear Inc. is the production company run by Weber’s wife, Nan Bush.

Meantime, WWD has learned that L’Oréal reportedly canceled its Ralph Lauren men’s fragrance ad campaign that was photographed by Weber. The ads were scheduled to break in January. Spokeswomen for L’Oréal and Ralph Lauren had no comment Friday.

Also, an event for Weber during Art Basel Miami Beach, that was to be sponsored by Vanity Fair and car brand Genesis, was canceled earlier this month.

wwd.com

 

[Deleted member 141523]

 

[Sensation]

The NY Times article is out and Mario Testino is accused now:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/13/style/mario-testino-bruce-weber-harassment.html

Also:

Condé Nast, publisher of some of the glossiest magazines in the world, is changing the way it does business.

Prompted by the sexual harassment outcry that has enveloped fashion and other industries, Condé Nast said it began working in late October on a code of conduct that will go into effect this month.

Separately, in response to allegations of sexual harassment and abuse of power from numerous male models against the photographers Bruce Weber and Mario Testino, the media company said in a statement on Friday that it would stop working with the two men, at least for now.

In the statement, Anna Wintour, artistic director of Condé Nast and editor of Vogue, and Robert A. Sauerberg Jr., chief executive of Condé Nast, said: “We are deeply disturbed by these accusations and take this very seriously. In light of these allegations, we will not be commissioning any new work with Bruce Weber and Mario Testino for the foreseeable future.”

Mr. Weber and Mr. Testino have been deeply embedded in the history of image-making at Vogue and its peer publications, such as GQ and Vanity Fair.

In a statement to The New York Times, Mr. Weber said the allegations of the models were “untrue” and that he had “never touched anyone inappropriately.” Lawyers for Mr. Testino objected to the allegations and called the credibility of the men who said they were harassed into question.

Condé Nast began working on the code not long after dozens of women accused the Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct in articles by The Times and The New Yorker, the company said. Along with Ms. Wintour, the initiative was spearheaded by Mr. Sauerberg and Jonathan Newhouse, chief executive of Condé Nast International, which will also adopt the code. (It may be modified to make it relevant for different countries and cultures.)

“A crisis often results in action,” Ms. Wintour said.

Though the fashion industry has been known to overlook sexual harassment in the past, there are indications, like the new Condé Nast policy, that it is beginning to push for systemic change.

Under its new guidelines, the company will no longer work with models who are younger than 18. There will be no alcohol on photo sets. Photographers will not be allowed to use the set for personal work after a commissioned shoot is completed, and it is recommended that models not be left alone with photographers, makeup artists or other contributors. Any nudity or “sexually suggestive poses” in the shoot will be detailed beforehand and agreed to in advance by the subject. There will be an anonymous reporting line for any violations.

After the Weinstein allegations, Hearst Magazines, which owns Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Esquire, Cosmopolitan and others, added a clause to its contributor agreements requiring independent contractors to reveal any harassment claims, informal or formal, pending against them. They must also notify Hearst if they become aware of any such claims while working for the company.

“We are extremely concerned and anxious about providing a healthy working environment, which we know is sometimes difficult in the fashion world,” said Joanna Coles, chief content officer of Hearst Magazines.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/13/...code-of-conduct-sexual-harassment-models.html

 

[Benn98]

The end of Mario Testino? Never thought I'd see this day! Pity for Anna because he shot next month's cover and the press will have a field day with that.

The clause laid out by Hearst sounds so laughab to me. Declare any pending sexual harassment charges beforehand? Really? That's their solution to the problem? CN's may sound a bit hard-handed but the modelling industry functioned unmoderated for far too long.

 

[kokobombon]

The end of Mario Testino? Never thought I'd see this day! Pity for Anna because he shot next month's cover and the press will have a field day with that.

IKR!
I wonder if Vogue still has time to commision a new cover/spread? when is the february issue due?

 

[Benn98]

IKR!
I wonder if Vogue still has time to commision a new cover/spread? when is the february issue due?

Too late, the issue is already on sale.....

 

[MON]

Too late, the issue is already on sale.....

But I think they can still change the cover when the issue is reprinted for restock.

 

[kokobombon]

Too late, the issue is already on sale.....

of course! I forgot that Serena´s cover is february´s

was there talk about March´s cover in the rumor thread?

 

[Benn98]

of course! I forgot that Serena´s cover is february´s

was there talk about March´s cover in the rumor thread?

Sh*t, yes! March was also shot by him, I think. That can be reshot, I'm sure.

Mon, I didn't know they could do that. It will mean two covers will float around. Bear in mind that Amazon is sitting with a lot of stock. If this was March or Sept I'd sat maybe. But Feb is not a busy month. They probably won't even go for a 2nd print as it is.
Think about the implications. Serena and her bub will have to avail themselves again if it's a reshoot. It only worked for Elle with Richardson because I don't think the issue was printed at the time.

 

[Miss Dalloway]

Heard stories about Testino for years, from models, to his former assistants that had some cringe worthy experiences right from Harvey Weinstein book!!

How glorious to see someone as powerful as Testino be held accountable, i thought the day would never come! The amount of support this man has in the industry, despite many knowing, is insane!!

Surprised and happy by Anna's statement, it truly feels like we are at a point of change in the world, and creeps are being weeded OUT!! The fact they won't work wtih him, no CN title, is amazing step, and i hope he doesn' weasel himself out of this, and more people come forward!

 

[kokobombon]

^I´d also imagine that brands won´t work with him, not just magazines. Stuart Weitzman must be banging their heads against the walls... so far is the only SS2018 campaign out with Testino. I wonder about Michael Kors, Burberry, Carolina Herrera...

 

[Miss Dalloway]

^ Very curious to see how those brands respond, especially Kors who has been using him for so long! He needs to be shut out completely!

His lawyers response is such BS! They always come after the vicitims, and to discredit them!

 

[MON]

Has any of the Testino accusers been named / revealed? Or are the reports sticking with a mere general allegation of “13 employees” “male models” “have accused...”.

 

[Nymphaea]

How glorious to see someone as powerful as Testino be held accountable, i thought the day would never come! The amount of support this man has in the industry, despite many knowing, is insane!!

Surprised and happy by Anna's statement, it truly feels like we are at a point of change in the world, and creeps are being weeded OUT!! The fact they won't work wtih him, no CN title, is amazing step, and i hope he doesn' weasel himself out of this, and more people come forward!

+1, let them fall hard and never come back.

 

[Miss Dalloway]

Has any of the Testino accusers been named / revealed? Or are the reports sticking with a mere general allegation of “13 employees” “male models” “have accused...”.

Yes, some have been named on the record, quite a few spoke to NYT, but several kept Anonymous, and i think for there to be truly "The end of MT", we need more of them to step forward!! Someone as powerful as him, could easily get out of this!

 

[dodencebt]

We’ve all heard countless stories about Testino and Weber and I am glad victimized models and assistants are finally coming out. I have a hunch that this is not the end of it and that more public allegations will follow.

 

[fashionista-ta]

The beginning of the end for Bruce?

Anyway, I don't believe the model. I just googled him and nothing shows up. What gives?

Why would you not believe him because of not finding anything via Google?!