Photographer Terry Richardson: "I am a pervert"
By Ben ReiningaMarch 31st, 2011, 2:00 pmComments (28)
The latest allegation against fashion photographer Terry Richardson — that he tries to get girls to fuck him in exchange for promoting their careers — doesn't seem terribly surprising, given that he's had that accusation leveled against him more than Dov Charney, and, well, he's a creep.
What is new, however, is this new transcript of an IM conversation, which allegedly took place between Richardson and the model in question. He is surprisingly blunt about his intentions. The account comes from Felice Fawn, who blogged and Tweeted aobut it yesterday, and then deleted both, because she said she feared the backlash. Here's a longish portion of the conversation:
Felice Fawn: Hey there Terry.
Terry Richardson: hi there!
Felice Fawn: Thanks for your message, I'm flattered!
Terry Richardson: dont be, just doing my job
Felice Fawn: :)
Terry Richardson: do you happen to have a recent pict from you, a link, so i can see it before i offer something
Felice Fawn: Sure - www.felicefawn.com/model
Felice Fawn: The first set of images are from like, 2 days ago.
Terry Richardson: special look, congrats
Felice Fawn: Wow, thank you!
Terry Richardson: your age?
Felice Fawn: I'm 22
Felice Fawn: As of early March
Terry Richardson: looking 17, is good!
Felice Fawn: :D
Felice Fawn: Yeah most people say I look young!
Terry Richardson: can you handle open and direct talk?
Felice Fawn: How do you mean?
Terry Richardson: straight to the point, no ping pong
Felice Fawn: Oh right haha, yeah yeah
Terry Richardson: modelling is more then only a pretty face
Felice Fawn: Yeah of course
Terry Richardson: but most models do know how things go behind the scenes to get the fame
Terry Richardson: do you?
Felice Fawn: Maybe not, so tell me?
Terry Richardson: easy and simple, like i said, i am used to talk daily about it with the other models, it is sex drugs and rock & roll
Terry Richardson: dont tell me you do not know this
Felice Fawn: Yes I am aware, but I don't do drugs and I certainly wont suck dick for fame.
Terry Richardson: thanks for the chat and wish you all the best, since there is only one real way for fame
Felice Fawn: Are you really Terry Richardson?
Terry Richardson: yes
Terry Richardson: who else i am, this account is connected with my ID and IP address
Terry Richardson: why the question?
Felice Fawn: Well you're obviously incredibly renowned for your work, so I just count myself incredibly lucky to be contacted by you.
Felice Fawn: So thanks again for your compliments.
Terry Richardson: dont be, i am a pervert like the rest in fashion
Felice Fawn: Good on you for being so blunt about it though.
Felice Fawn: Most people don't have the balls.
Terry Richardson: like i said, daily 20 models do offer me to fuck them for fame and all others i know in fashion also fuck around
Felice Fawn: Well I'm not like that I'm afraid.
Terry Richardson: but, would have shot you and published you for sure, but no prob
The whole thing is, as of yet, unproven — and without anything other than an unverifiable transcript, nothing will come of it. But still, women of the world, when a guy tells you he wants you to come over to he his house and take pictures of you naked, uh, think of this.
Comments ( 28 )
Why is this news? Whether or not the story is true, it looks like the girl just wants to boost traffic to her site.
Geez Jankem, would it be more ethical of her to blow the creep? He is "direct" all right, but so is a polite bank robber. If he can text such blatant tripe to a 22 year old, she can at least be bright enough to use it for her own advantage. Either he's ashamed and shouldn't have sent the text, or he's not ashamed and shouldn't mind it getting posted. If she made it up - that's different.
Ethicality was never brought into the equation. This guy has kept a pretty consistent M.O. over the course of his career. If this girl didn't anticipate her conversation to take that direction (and really, find me an aspiring model who can't see where "most models do know how things go behind the scenes to get the fame" leads to) then she had no business interacting with him in the first place.
Fair enough, it ain't about ethics, but really is she somehow creepier than him for wanting to advance her career and not suck off some skeeze ? Hell, I checked out her website and I don't feel used.(somebody buy that poor girl a sandwich)
Absolutely, Jankem. Her agreeing to meeting him is EXACTLY THE SAME as consenting to sex.
Excuse me, I meant to say that it would have been EXACTLY THE SAME as consenting to sex.
Terry is one of the worst because he's such a huge photog, but this happens at every level of modeling. It's a fucked up industry that promotes abuse of naive young women (and men!) along with unhealthy life styles. Unless (and still in some cases) you make it big, you will come out the other end all sorts of fucked in the head. But, like everything in life, it's a choice, no one forces someone to become a model.
Hey, they choose to do it, get into it. They problem. I'm against manipulation and exploitation and lies and all that, but it's too well known about the real nature of this thing, that personally, I find it hard to believe anyone going into that is naieve as to what really happens.
yeah this asshole needs to be called out web justice style, it's pathetic to me that he sits pretty in his little bubble where he gets to manipulate women like that. gross. sure he may be upfront but he has no respect, which is the real issue with how he treats women. Just remember when you go to buy a mag that uses his work or a brand that he does work for...
Again I ask, "Oh and for everyone calling him a creep,asshole,etc, if he was more ideally attractive, and he said this and she did bang him or whatever, would you still say that about him? I'm not defending this guy in any way, I'm just throwing out a curve ball and asking what's really going on?" I mean, if he was say Brad Pitt or Jake Gyllenhal, or Ryan Reynolds, or anyone else who makes the girls get there panties in a twist, would you still say that?
Again I ask, "Oh and for everyone calling him a creep,asshole,etc, if he was more ideally attractive, and he said this and she did bang him or whatever, would you still say that about him? I'm not defending this guy in any way, I'm just throwing out a curve ball and asking what's really going on?" I mean, if he was say Brad Pitt or Jake Gyllenhal, or Ryan Reynolds, or anyone else who makes the girls get there panties in a twist, would you still say that?
Again I ask, "Oh and for everyone calling him a creep,asshole,etc, if he was more ideally attractive, and he said this and she did bang him or whatever, would you still say that about him? I'm not defending this guy in any way, I'm just throwing out a curve ball and asking what's really going on?" I mean, if he was say Brad Pitt or Jake Gyllenhal, or Ryan Reynolds, or anyone else who makes the girls get there panties in a twist, would you still say that?
He's soliciting prostitution. The models are already selling(images of)their bodies. Not much of a leap, is it?
It's super extra creepy that he congratulates her on looking 17 and she is flattered by this.
She's 22, so she's legal. I bet you anything, if this hadn't been made public,she would have blown him anyway. Or, she's using this to her own advantage/manipulation.Trying to make her look good and him the bad guy. I mean, he didn't assault or harm her in any way, he only asked for a bj, so it could be worse.
It could be worse. What's your point? "It could be worse" doesn't mean it's good. It's still sexual harassment in a professional setting. It still adds to a culture where women feel objectified. Laugh all you want, but some models are very professional about your work and modeling does, inf act, take some amount of skill. My cousin is a very successful one.
I'm not saying models aren't professional or don't deserve respect, however, it does seem like a dumb proffesion to me. "Women Feel Objectified" I have a problem with that statement. Not that I objectify or objectify women, but come on! The fashion/modeling industry is all about that! I find it hard to believe someone getting into that is naieve. I mean, of course there personal boundaries should be respected, but complaining about how the fashion/modeling industry "objectifies" women, is like complaining about how the meat industry kills animals for food. That's the best analogy I could come up with at the moment. It could be worse in that he attempted to rape her or kidnap her, all he wanted was a bj. Ok?
Oh and for everyone calling him a creep,asshole,etc, if he was more ideally attractive, and he said this and she did bang him or whatever, would you still say that about him? I'm not defending this guy in any way, I'm just throwing out a curve ball and asking what's really going on?
Yes, we would still say that about him. It's the age and the position of professional power that makes this creepy, not the way he looks.
Ok. Let's not kid ourselves. How many chicks bang there boss to get ahead or more benefits/advantages on the job? Alot. Isn't that using professional power to your advantage? I mean, again, I find it hard to believe that someone who gets into this industry is naieve as to what can and does happen. And again, if he was a more traditionally attractive guy, and he did this, in a non creepy way, no one would complain. It would be more ooh and aah. I mean, what if she did agree to sleep with him? Then what? Is he still a creep?
"How many chicks bang there boss to get ahead or more benefits/advantages on the job? Alot." Really. Could you give us more details about this study you've conducted? Also, it is professional power coming into play when it's the boss propositioning the employee, not the other way around. What's inappropriate is for someone with more power to approach someone with less power in the industry, and leverage their power to get what they want. If an employee propositions a boss and the boss feels it's inappropriate, they can simply fire them. Also as a woman, I can say without a shred of doubt that good-looking guys can be creeps. Once again, the fact you sound like you're assuming we're dumb, shallow creatures kind of barely hides your bitter feelings.
If you're going to pull "facts" out of your ass, make 'em more interesting/believable.
FY is either a moron, hyper oblivious, or a hyper oblivious moron, as demonstrated by the fact he can conceive of a scenario where the nature of the looks of this fuckwit would make a difference to his being a fuckwit.
I think that FuckYou is Terry Richardson.
How is this a suprise!
How high one must have to be to even go NEAR that creepy motherfucker. He's repellent and no amount of fame, money or anything else would allow me to give up my dignity to touch even his arm. Good for that girl for not only refusing but once again exposing him for the creep he is. Eventually, hopefully, there will be outrage and people will stop buying his schtick and shit.
"How high one must have to be to even go NEAR that creepy motherfucker. He's repellent and no amount of fame, money or anything else would allow me to give up my dignity to touch even his arm. Good for that girl for not only refusing but once again exposing him for the creep he is. Eventually, hopefully, there will be outrage and people will stop buying his schtick and shit." Again. If this had been someone considered more "traditionally attractive", i.e Brad Pitt, Jake Gyllenhal or Jon Hamm, no one would be complaining and even celebrating it probably. Oh wow. People with a little,some,or alot of power might use it to there advantage.
"Really. Could you give us more details about this study you've conducted? " I've seen it happen myself, we all know it does, and if you don't, you're very naieve.
"Also, it is professional power coming into play when it's the boss propositioning the employee, not the other way around." What difference does it matter? Either way, it's the boss using the power to there advantage. If she accepts fine, if not, fine. Let's not kid ourselves and make said chick in question out to be innocent. I mean, you think said chick in question is going to bang someone who is not the boss w/o power? Come on now.
" What's inappropriate is for someone with more power to approach someone with less power in the industry, and leverage their power to get what they want." Uh, you've either never had an asshole boss, or are just naieve. People use power to get what they want all the time. Advertising/Marketing/Industry etc is a big example that comes to mind.
". If an employee propositions a boss and the boss feels it's inappropriate, they can simply fire them." I don't mind anyone making a propostion towards anyone nor anyone fucking those they please, as long as no one's being screwed,shafted or manipulated, really don't care.
"Also as a woman, I can say without a shred of doubt that good-looking guys can be creeps."
I never said they couldn't. Argue with me. Debate with me. Call me all the names under the sun you want, but don't put words in my mouth or hear what only you want to hear. I said had it been someone who was mr.suave actor who gets the chicks and such, no one would be complaining, or as much. Some people have morals, which I'm all for, but let's be real here. I mean, all this guy did was ask for a bj, it's like he did a Roman Polanksi, and you all want to make him the evil one.
"Once again, the fact you sound like you're assuming we're dumb, shallow creatures kind of barely hides your bitter feelings." No. But dumb shallow creatures, both men and women do exist, and that's not even what I was saying. We all know power attracts people, both power for good or bad, and good or bad people. And let's not kid ourselves, chicks would be more likely to sleep with a Jake Gyllenhal or a Ryan Reynolds, or whoever makes your panties moist. It happens don't deny it. Bitter? I'm not bitter at all. Sounds like you can't handle certain truths, and make the girl(s) out to be all innocent and men are so bad! right?
I had a similar experience a few years ago when I was living in Brooklyn and trying my hand at modeling. I contacted him about setting up a shoot and had a similar exchange through texts. I figured that no one would believe me, so I basically only told my closest friends. I thought maybe it was someone pretending to be him, but apparently it wasn't. Glad to see that its been put out in the open.
Add a Comment