Male models accuse Mario Testino and Bruce Weber of sexual exploitation
The world-renowned photographers have both been suspended from working with Vogue.
By Will Stroude
Photographers Mario Testino and Bruce Weber have been suspended from working with leading fashion publications including Vogue amid allegations of sexual exploitation.
The world-renowned artists have been accused of sexual misconduct by a number of former models and assistants in an article published by The New York Times. Both deny the allegations.
13 male assistants have accused Testino, 63, of making unwanted sexual advances that in some cases including masturbation and groping in allegations that stretch back to the 1990s.
Former model Ryan Locke descrvbed Testino as a “sexual predator” whose reputation for sexually-exploiting rising stars in the modelling industry was well-known.
Meanwhile, Weber, 71, has been accused by 15 current and former models of coercive sexual behavior and subjecting them to unnecessary nudity.
US photographer Bruce Weber has been accused of sexually-exploitative behaviour by 15 current and former models.
In a statement from his lawer, Mr Weber said: “I’m completely shocked and saddened by the outrageous claims being made against me, which I absolutely deny.”
Meanwhile, lawyers for Testino said challenged the credibility of the accusers and said they had spoken to several of the photographers former employees who were “shocked by the allegations” and “could not confirm any of the claims.”
Conde Nast, the publisher of US fashion magazine Vogue, said they would not be working with the photographers “for the forseeable future”.
Editor-in-chief Anna Wintour said in a statement: “Both (photographers) are personal friends of mine who have made extraordinary contributions to Vogue and many other titles at Conde Nast over the years, and both have issued objections or denials to what has emerged.
“I believe strongly in the value of remorse and forgiveness, but I take the allegations very seriously, and we at Conde Nast have decided to put our working relationship with both photographers on hold for the foreseeable future.”