Photographer Terry Richardson hit with ANOTHER sexual assault lawsuit by former model who claims he forced her to perform oral sex during a shoot in 2003 – and then used the images in an art book
Disgraced photographer Terry Richardson has been charged with a second count of sexual assault by a former model who claims he took photos of her during oral sex and included them in his book.
Former model Caron Bernstein, 53, filed a lawsuit Thursday against Richardson, 58, who photographed her during a 2003 shoot.
The South African model and actress claimed Richardson forced her to perform oral sex on him during their photo shoot 20 years ago and then published the photos in his art book.
Almost identical claims were made a day earlier against the 58-year-old father of two by Spanish model Minerva Portillo – who was just 22 at the time of the alleged abuse.
Bernstein and Portillo have both filed claims under the Adult Survivors Act – a New York law that gave victims of sex crimes a year to file charges that would normally fall outside the statute of limitations.
Terry Richardson, 58, is facing a lawsuit against former model Caron Bernstein, 53, whom he photographed during a 2003 shoot
Caron Bernstein (right) – a South African model and actress claimed that Richardson forced her to perform oral sex on him during their photo shoot twenty years ago and then published the photos in his art book
According to Bernstein’s attorneys, the lawsuit was filed at the “11th hour” before the deadline for filing a claim,
The expiration date was midnight on Thanksgiving, and Bernstein’s case was filed just four hours earlier.
The alleged location of the incident was at Richardson’s Photography in New York – where the photographer is originally from.
His assistant said the shoot was for V magazine, but the publication later denied that Richardson had been asked for such a shoot, the lawsuit said.
Richardson allegedly explained to the then 33-year-old that the photos would be used for a fragrance called ‘Sex’ and that he wanted to take ‘sexy’ photos of her.
The lawsuit stated, “Rather than participate in a professional photo shoot with Bernstein, Richardson sexually assaulted Bernstein, without her express or implied consent, by holding Bernstein’s head and repeatedly forcing Richardson’s erect penis in and out of Bernstein’s mouth and then ejaculating Richardson’s semen on him. Bernstein’s neck, chest and breasts.’
The lawsuit claims that as many as eight of Richardson’s employees were present during the “attack” and describes the incident — which Richardson allegedly took photos of — as “oral sodomy.”
Richardson subsequently used the images of Bernstein performing oral sex in his art book Kibosh and his exhibition ‘Terryworld’.
The lawsuit seeks damages for battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and gender-based violence.
Almost identical claims were made a day earlier against the 58-year-old father of two by Spanish model Minerva Portillo – who was just 22 at the time of the alleged abuse
Richardson is no stranger to accusations – he is as well known for his racy – often pornographic – photo shoots as he is for the sexual assault allegations leveled against him – The Guardian has even described him as ‘fashion’s shameful secret’
FAshion designer Tom Ford – for whom Bernstein modeled – jumped to Richardson’s defense and said: ‘I love Terry’.
Ford spoke out in a 2019 interview with The New York Times — two years after models Lindsay Jones and Caron Bernstein both came forward with allegations of reported sexual assault committed by Richardson.
He said: ‘I have to say I’ve never seen that with Terry in my life. One of my assistants dated Terry for two years and he was the kindest and gentlest person in the relationship.”
Bernstein responded at the time by saying Ford’s comments were a “damn abuse of power.”
The 58-year-old photographer has photographed everyone from Miley Cyrus to Kim Kardashian in his New York studio.
Richardson is no stranger to accusations – he is known as much for his racy – often pornographic – photo shoots as for the sexual assault allegations leveled against him – The Guardian has even described him as ‘fashion’s shameful secret’.
In 2004, an intern named “Alex” was photographed performing oral sex on the photographer while wearing a tiara labeled “slut,” something Richardson described at the time as “It’s Sesame Street!”
In 2009, a model named Sena Cech claimed that Richardson’s assistant asked her to jerk him off, apparently saying, “Sena, can you take his dick and twist it really hard?” He likes it when you squeeze and twist it really hard.”
In 2010, a model named Rie Rasmussen confronted Richardson at a party in Paris after he posted photos of her next to underage models in his book – in America, models under the age of 18 are considered minors.
She said: ‘He takes young girls, manipulates them into undressing and takes pictures of them that they will be ashamed of.
“They’re too scared to say no because their agency booked them for this job and they’re too young to stand up for themselves.”
In 2015, he faced accusations from model Kate Upton that he had released images of her dancing in a bikini without her consent.
In the one-minute film uploaded to YouTube two years ago, Kate is seen dancing in a tiny red string bikini. The model says the film was not intended for public consumption.
Bernstein and Portillo both filed their claims against Richardson under the Adult Survivors Act – a New York law that gave victims of sex crimes a year to file charges that would normally fall outside the statute of limitations.
Known to many as ‘Uncle Terry’, one of his more controversial shots features a woman giving fellatio to a man (presumably Richardson) while he is dressed as a horse.
Further sexual shots show Richardson completely naked, dressed as the devil and with models sexually stimulating him with their hands or mouths.
A model named Jamie Peck revealed that she worked with the photographer twice at the age of 19.
Jamie said the second time she got her period, Richardson asked “if I wanted to take my tampon out so he could play with it.” ‘I love tampons!’ ‘ he said, in that psychotically cheerful way that temporarily convinces so many girls that what’s fun for Uncle Terry is fun for them too.’
She is referring to the fact that Richardson wanted to make ‘Tampon tea’ from her used sanitary towels.
Jamie revealed that she also sexually stimulated the photographer with her hand and was encouraged to do so not only by Richardson, but also by his team after he took off all his clothes.
Richardson once told The Observer about his shoots: “A lot of it starts with me saying to a girl, ‘Do you want to take nudes?’ And they say, ‘I don’t want to be naked.’
“So I say, ‘I’ll be naked and you take the pictures.’ You can have the camera. You can have the phallus.”