Photographer Terry Richardson Banned From Condé Nast Publications
As sexual harassment allegations continue to come out against Harvey Weinstein, conversation has once again surrounded Terry Richardson, a fashion/celebrity photographer who has been accused of numerous acts of sexual assault, yet continues to get work both commercially and editorially.
On Monday (October 23), Condé Nast International announced it will no longer run Richardson's photos. According to the Telegraph, COO James Woolhouse sent an internal email to "country presidents" stating his intentions to ban the American photographer's work from the company's many publications, which include international editions of Vogue, GQ, Glamour and Vanity Fair.
Here's what the email reportedly said:
“I am writing to you on an important matter. Condé Nast would like to no longer work with the photographer Terry Richardson.
Any shoots that have been commission[ed] or any shoots that have been completed but not yet published, should be killed and substituted with other material.
Please could you confirm that this policy will be actioned in your market effective immediately. Thank you for your support in this matter.”
The backlash against Richardson began in 2013, when companies including H&M, Target and Aldo severed ties with the photographer. However, many brands and companies still commission the New Yorker's work amidst sexual assault allegations, including Kylie Jenner, who hired him to shoot her personal 2017 calendar.
The Condé Nast statement sets a powerful precedent, and hopefully the rest of the industry will follow suit.