Renowned fashion photographer Mario Testino has been accused of sexual assault. A new report in The New York Times has revealed accounts of abuse dating back to the early nineties from thirteen male models and assistants who worked with Testino.
The same investigation also uncovered similar details about photographer Bruce Weber. Fifteen current and former male models who worked with Weber have accused him of unnecessary nudity and coercive sexual behavior, in particular on photo shoots.
Testino’s lawyers have disputed the accounts while Weber denied the claims in a statement to The New York Times.
Anna Wintour, the artistic director of Condé Nast and Editor-in-Chief at US Vogue, has released a statement confirming that the publishing house will be not be working with the pair for the ‘foreseeable future’.
‘Both are personal friends of mine who have made extraordinary contributions to Vogue and many other titles at Condé Nast over the years, and both have issued objections or denials to what has emerged. I believe strongly in the value of remorse and forgiveness, but I take the allegations very seriously, and we at Condé Nast have decided to put our working relationship with both photographers on hold for the foreseeable future,’ Wintour wrote.
Testino has worked with the royal family throughout his career and regularly photographed Princess Diana as well as taking the official portrait for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s engagement. It was expected that Testino may take Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s official wedding portraits but following these allegations he has been ruled out.
Testino and Weber are not the only fashion industry figures to come under fire post Weinstein. Late last year a number of high profile fashion titles confirmed they would no longer be working with Terry Richardson after the photographer was accused of numerous counts of sexual assault, in particular by female models, on set.
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.