Richardson ‘played porn films’ while photographing young models

SOME of the biggest names in fashion raced to distance themselves from Terry Richardson yesterday as one the industry’s most influential editors told how she refused to work with the controversial photographer.

Justine Picardie, the editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar, said she did not want her models subjected to Richardson’s “troubling” working methods, which included screening hardcore pornography during shoots. Ms Picardie said those in positions of power within the industry had the duty to ensure that young people were not placed in similar situations. She said: “I would suggest that young models should not be put in positions where they feel exposed and vulnerable.”

Picardie spoke out after Condé Nast International, the publisher of Vogue, GQ and other fashion magazines, issued instructions to its editors on Monday banning the use of Richardson and ordering them to “kill” any photo shoots featuring his work. The decision came as allegations resurfaced that he had engaged in sexually inappropriate behaviour with young models during photo shoots.

After Condé Nast’s decision, Valentino, the Italian fashion house for which Richardson shot a current highprofile campaign, said it would follow suit. It stated: “The last campaign with photographer Terry Richardson was shot in July 2017 – there are no plans for a future campaign and we of course take these allegations seriously.”

Bulgari, the Italian luxury brand, which used Richardson to shoot its 2017 accessories campaign, said it had “no plans to work with him again”.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Diesel, the US jeans maker, said: “I can confirm that we are not collaborating with Terry Richardson for the Diesel campaign, and also that we don’t have plans to work with him.”

Porter magazine, which used Richardson to photograph Bella Hadid in May, said it has now “ceased working with him and publishing his images”.

Picardie said she had decided not to use Richardson when she took over at Harper’s Bazaar in 2012. She said his “overly exploitative vision of women was something I didn’t feel happy with”.

Picardie had regular disagreements with other fashion editors over his work. She said that the 52-year-old’s methods were well known.

Richardson responded to Condé Nast’s decision by admitting that his controversial working practices involve “interacting” with models in a sexually explicit way. The photographer – who has been accused of persuading models as young as 19 to perform sexual acts on him while taking their photograph – says he only ever engaged in consensual behaviour.

On Tuesday he admitted he sometimes behaved in a sexually explicit manner during photo shoots. In a statement to The Daily Telegraph his spokesman said: “He is an artist who has been known for his sexually explicit work, so many of his professional interactions with subjects were sexual and explicit in nature but all of the subjects of his work participated consensually.”