FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER BRUCE WEBER SUED FOR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

Photographer Bruce Weber, Courtesy Wikipedia

Last Friday, The New York Post reported on a sexual misconduct lawsuit filed against renowned fashion photographer Bruce Weber by former male model Jason Boyce. Boyce alleges that in 2014 during a shoot at Weber’s Manhattan studio, the photographer pressured Boyce to take off his clothes, put his fingers in Boyce’s mouth and forced Boyce to touch his genitals and kiss him. At the time, Boyce was 28-years-old and Weber 68.

Boyce complied with Weber’s demands because he had been advised by his former agent, Jason Kanner of Soul Artist Management, to “nail” the shoot because of Weber’s influence. In the midst of his sexual advances, Weber allegedly asked Boyce, “How far do you want to make it? How ambitious are you?”

The incident left Boyce “terrified and repulsed” and led to the end of his modeling career.  “Mr. Boyce felt intense dread at the thought of a modeling career in an industry where Mr. Weber was considered by many to be a top photographer and primary champion of male models,” the complaint states. “He was worried that he would continue to run into Mr. Weber throughout his career. He experienced anxiety, depression, and high levels of stress.”

The lawsuit also alleges that Kanner knew about Weber’s predatory behavior: “Upon information and belief, Mr. Weber has engaged in similar conduct with other male models referred to him by Mr. Kanner and Soul Artist, and Mr. Kanner and Soul Artist are aware of such conduct,” the court papers say.

The allegations against Weber follow Conde Nast’s decision to stop working with fashion photographer Terry Richardson due to his decades-long history of alleged sexual misconduct. Weber nor Kanner have publicly commented on Boyce’s lawsuit, though the fashion industry is beginning to react to the allegations accordingly—Vanity Fair has cancelled its Art Basel party in honor of Weber’s book, “All-American Volume XVII.”

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