Di’s fotog ‘abused models’
Princess Diana’s personal photographer has been accused of sexually attacking his models.
Patrick Demarchelier is one of dozens of fashion industry workers, including agents, casting directors and stylists, named in a Boston Globe exposé of alleged abusers.
The 74-year-old French fotog, who snapped the famous picture of Diana wearing a strapless dress and tiara, described the charges as “ridiculous.’’
His accusers are a former assistant and six models.
The ex-assistant charged that he started coming on to her when she was only 19. She said she rejected him but eventually gave in because she felt her job was at risk, the Globe said.
“I remember many test shoots with teenage girls where Patrick’s team of assistants (including me) was dismissed for the day only to find naked photos of the girl in the darkroom the next day,” she said.
The newspaper quoted one of the models saying that when she was a teenager working in Paris, Demarchelier asked her if she would perform a sex act on him, offering to make her famous if she agreed. She refused. About two years later, she was assigned to a shoot in New York, where the photographer lives. She said he then repeated his offer.
Demarchelier described the accusations as “pure lying,’’ claiming he was married and “never, never, never’’ touched a model.
Other accusations by models include him grabbing their breasts, forcing their hands onto his genitals and making vulgar propositions.