Uncle Terry - anyone seen / read this article outside Australia / New Zealand?

[Menace]

Came across this article in the local online news website ...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/fashion/9430606/Fashions-dirty-little-secret

Interesting...

 

[unfocused]

Disgusting. Absolutely terrible that the industry continues to support such a sleaze. Thanks for sharing.

 

[GuyF]

I've been aware of Terry Richardson for a few years. I first saw his book Terryworld in a book shop and none of the images had any artistic merit as far as I could see. Lots of images taken from what appeared to be "behind the camera" on the set of porn shoots etc. A few images too of him showing, um, how happy he was with himself (I'll let you work out what that might be a euphamisim for).

So if you like (mainly) crummy images that anyone could take with a mobile phone, then Terry's your man. Clearly we don't know the story behind each image but I did get the feeling he might have used the, 'do this for me and it'll advance your career' trick. I wonder how many other famous (infamous?) photographers have exploited women.

Ultimately, I doubt he cares what we think.

 

[AAPhotog]

I don't blame him. I blame the womens love of fame.
I have heard many of stories of him using his name to have sex with women(but how many famous people don't???)
I have NEVER heard of him FORCING himself on someone.


Terry - "Yes I'll shoot you, but can we sleep together"
Model - "Yes, why not, if it'll get me the in front of your camera"

I don't see what the problem is, if she chose to sleep with him based on his name in the business, she's just as bad as he is. They are BOTH the cause of the problem, I don't see either being a victim. Fair exchange is no robbery.

Do you think the ceo who hires the sexy blonde receptionist because she wears revealing outfits to work a sleaze as well???


One thing I DONT understand is why everyone supports his work when it isn't good in my opinion.
My iphone with flash can create the same photos without me even looking. simply point and click

 

[AAPhotog]

Thats odd, do they not have the ability to leave??
Fear of not being booked again?
If he was such a monster as these women claim, why would they care if he booked them again? Why would they WANT him to book them again?
I simply don't buy it. So many are always playing the victim, it's truly pathetic to me

If you have the ability to make a conscious decision of if you WANT to participate or not, how can you be a victim???

"What happens is them feeling like they have no choice. They're vulnerable," Rena says of many young, inexperienced models who assume the nude shot is par for the course if they want a career in modelling. There's fear, Harvey says, "that if they don't do what he wants, he's not going to book them again."

 

[GmwDarkroom]

I don't blame him. I blame the womens love of fame.
I have heard many of stories of him using his name to have sex with women(but how many famous people don't???)
I have NEVER heard of him FORCING himself on someone.


Terry - "Yes I'll shoot you, but can we sleep together"
Model - "Yes, why not, if it'll get me the in front of your camera"

I don't see what the problem is, if she chose to sleep with him based on his name in the business, she's just as bad as he is. They are BOTH the cause of the problem, I don't see either being a victim. Fair exchange is no robbery.

Do you think the ceo who hires the sexy blonde receptionist because she wears revealing outfits to work a sleaze as well???


One thing I DONT understand is why everyone supports his work when it isn't good in my opinion.
My iphone with flash can create the same photos without me even looking. simply point and click

If there was no coercion, then yes the situation is "merely" unprofessional and inappropriate. The perception of coercion on the part of the recipient is all that matters.

However a person in a position of power to affect the career of another insinuating or outright stating that sex will further their career or the refusal will damage the career IS sexual harassment and coercion. The ability or inability of the victim to leave the situation is IRRELEVANT to the offense. The alleged activities in the article suggest that young models felt trapped by his advances because of the potential for career damage.

Lots of careers deal with people who can make or break those who work for them. The fact that someone can walk away doesn't mean the decision can't affect a career and doesn't make the situation not illegal.

 

[AAPhotog]

I don't blame him. I blame the womens love of fame.
I have heard many of stories of him using his name to have sex with women(but how many famous people don't???)
I have NEVER heard of him FORCING himself on someone.


Terry - "Yes I'll shoot you, but can we sleep together"
Model - "Yes, why not, if it'll get me the in front of your camera"

I don't see what the problem is, if she chose to sleep with him based on his name in the business, she's just as bad as he is. They are BOTH the cause of the problem, I don't see either being a victim. Fair exchange is no robbery.

Do you think the ceo who hires the sexy blonde receptionist because she wears revealing outfits to work a sleaze as well???


One thing I DONT understand is why everyone supports his work when it isn't good in my opinion.
My iphone with flash can create the same photos without me even looking. simply point and click

If there was no coercion, then yes the situation is "merely" unprofessional and inappropriate. The perception of coercion on the part of the recipient is all that matters.

However a person in a position of power to affect the career of another insinuating or outright stating that sex will further their career or the refusal will damage the career IS sexual harassment and coercion. The ability or inability of the victim to leave the situation is IRRELEVANT to the offense. The alleged activities in the article suggest that young models felt trapped by his advances because of the potential for career damage.

Lots of careers deal with people who can make or break those who work for them. The fact that someone can walk away doesn't mean the decision can't affect a career and doesn't make the situation not illegal.

People kill me with that. Their ability to leave is irrelevant???
Theres many of photographers in this world who can make a career. Stop going to the one looking for sex. You walk by a dog that is biting everyone, you expect to get bitten. Sounds like a bunch of nonsense. FOOLISHNESS! They need to stop whining and take their "talents" elsewhere.

 

[ajperk]

What the photographer is doing is essentially a type of blackmail: "I possess the power/authority/influence to harm your career/reputation and thus harm your interests. If you don't do X (which you are unwilling to do without this threat), then I will harm your interests." One doesn't have to explicitly spell out their position of power, especially given that such power, authority, or influence is often informal (making it yet easier for the blackmailer to deny wrong doing). The threat to do harm can be vague or implicit, as well as the expectations for the blackmailee's behavior (once again, making it easier for the blackmailer to deny having done anything wrong).

It is coercion. Call me old fashioned, but it is extremely unethical (and may even be illegal, also). The whole point of blackmail is that it gives the appearance that someone is doing something willingly, even though they are in fact not doing that willingly. Additionally, it's not only a way to try to hide from legal responsibility, but it frequently is the blackmailer's attempt to hide from their own conscience (perhaps, again though, I'm just old fashioned).

It is disgusting behavior, it does real harm to vulnerable people, and it should not be tolerated.

Thats odd, do they not have the ability to leave??
Fear of not being booked again?
If he was such a monster as these women claim, why would they care if he booked them again? Why would they WANT him to book them again?
I simply don't buy it. So many are always playing the victim, it's truly pathetic to me

If you have the ability to make a conscious decision of if you WANT to participate or not, how can you be a victim???

"What happens is them feeling like they have no choice. They're vulnerable," Rena says of many young, inexperienced models who assume the nude shot is par for the course if they want a career in modelling. There's fear, Harvey says, "that if they don't do what he wants, he's not going to book them again."

 

[AAPhotog]

What the photographer is doing is essentially a type of blackmail: "I possess the power/authority/influence to harm your career/reputation and thus harm your interests. If you don't do X (which you are unwilling to do without this threat), then I will harm your interests." One doesn't have to explicitly spell out their position of power, especially given that such power, authority, or influence is often informal (making it yet easier for the blackmailer to deny wrong doing). The threat to do harm can be vague or implicit, as well as the expectations for the blackmailee's behavior (once again, making it easier for the blackmailer to deny having done anything wrong).

It is coercion. Call me old fashioned, but it is extremely unethical (and may even be illegal, also). The whole point of blackmail is that it gives the appearance that someone is doing something willingly, even though they are in fact not doing that willingly. Additionally, it's not only a way to try to hide from legal responsibility, but it frequently is the blackmailer's attempt to hide from their own conscience (perhaps, again though, I'm just old fashioned).

It is disgusting behavior, it does real harm to vulnerable people, and it should not be tolerated.

Thats odd, do they not have the ability to leave??
Fear of not being booked again?
If he was such a monster as these women claim, why would they care if he booked them again? Why would they WANT him to book them again?
I simply don't buy it. So many are always playing the victim, it's truly pathetic to me

If you have the ability to make a conscious decision of if you WANT to participate or not, how can you be a victim???

"What happens is them feeling like they have no choice. They're vulnerable," Rena says of many young, inexperienced models who assume the nude shot is par for the course if they want a career in modelling. There's fear, Harvey says, "that if they don't do what he wants, he's not going to book them again."

Harm their career? How? most of the times these individuals are going to TR for photos. With that being said, it's not as though all of these individuals have a requirement to get a TR photo, or loose the contract. Just as much as he's using them. They're sitting back playing the victim using him.
"yes, if I ****** TR, I bet I can get a portfolio"
I just don't like how no matter who makes the decisions, or what they are, it somehow ALWAYS falls on the MALE!

 

[ajperk]

I just don't like how no matter who makes the decisions, or what they are, it somehow ALWAYS falls on the MALE!

It strikes me as ironic that your concern for the victimization of one group ("males") seems to blind you to the victimization of others (in this case, female models or aspiring models).

If you feel that men are blamed more often than others for such things, perhaps take comfort in that it's likely just a statistical anomaly: I'd posit that men generally hold a much larger portion of the positions of power, influence, and authority and so (just by simple statistics) are more frequently the ones abusing said power. You don't have to think it's something intrinsic to men or being male, just that it's an unfortunate result for a certain portion of people when they achieve power. Think of it as a HUman thing, not just a "man" thing.

 

[ajperk]

apparently I failed in making the quote thing work properly

 

[AAPhotog]

Women use what they have many of times to get what they need. But since this is terry richardson, they all cry about it AFTER the fact, when they simply could have left?
But wait "I don't want to loose these wonderful photos that he would take of me" In that case, the dignity and self respect that were taken from them because of the non existent force he used, must of not be too highly valued if they chose the photos instead. I mean, your point would make sense if say, every aspiring model had to take photos with TR as a requirement, in order to be signed to a major agency, but that is simply not the case. STOP TAKING PHOTOS WITH HIM. LEAVE IF YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.

 

[skullyspice]

not much different than the old casting couch that has been in Hollywood since the birth of film really. there will always be a percentage of women who will use what they have to get where they want. The difference is he makes no secret of it.

 

[AAPhotog]

not much different than the old casting couch that has been in Hollywood since the birth of film really. there will always be a percentage of women who will use what they have to get where they want. The difference is he makes no secret of it.

RIGHT!

 

[Jim O]

I think I understand both sides of this situation. Here's how I see it:

This guy is a well known sleaze. It's like the dog who bites metaphor above. If you go to "Uncle Terry" as an unknown aspiring model, and want him to shoot your modeling portfolio, you should know what he is and should not be surprised when the treats you like a whore. His reputation precedes him. Sorry, but it's the truth. You should go elsewhere.

On the other hand, if it's a paid job, and he has "creative control" and can hire whomever he chooses, and he insists on a pound of flesh, so to speak, or else you won't get the job, then that is coercion. It's unprofessional and likely also illegal in many countries.

 

[AAPhotog]

I think I understand both sides of this situation. Here's how I see it:

This guy is a well known sleaze. It's like the dog who bites metaphor above. If you go to "Uncle Terry" as an unknown aspiring model, and want him to shoot your modeling portfolio, you should know what he is and should not be surprised when the treats you like a whore. His reputation precedes him. Sorry, but it's the truth. You should go elsewhere.

On the other hand, if it's a paid job, and he has "creative control" and can hire whomever he chooses, and he insists on a pound of flesh, so to speak, or else you won't get the job, then that is coercion. It's unprofessional and likely also illegal in many countries.

illegal doesn't make things immoral. Although I wouldn't get women as such, I don't think it's wrong for him to work how he does(although many will disagree with me). Point is, YOU DONT HAVE TO DO THE JOB.
just like folks who want to take naked photos in the name of art. People who truly don't want to have sex with this man, won't do it under any circumstances. Forget who you are! It's like a woman wanting to kick it with the rock band, well chances are, you're going to have to give something up, do you still want to kick it with the rock band(because you liked them/ because their famous/ because they might put you in a song). If you don't want to have sex with this man, don't deal with him and blame it on him when he asked you to have sex, and you OBLIGED. whatever the reason may be. People that have principles, tend to not change them. Thats my just my 2,4,6,8 cent

 

[AAPhotog]

This is the last thing I'll say about it.
If someone offered a young lady 1,000 to sleep with them, and that young lady(who has the ability to turn down the offer) accepts it, do you call her a victim? No, many people would instead, call her a prostitute.
She used sex as a means of getting something she wanted. She wasn't FORCED, she simply accepted the offer.

 

[scottkinfw]

Here is my take.

This is the first I have heard of this guy. I read the article. I am old enough to be thinking of my legacy, and be clear on matters of character, values, ethics, etc. But, I wouldn't push them onto others.

That said, the problem is that he is in the position of power- he can make careers, he is older, he is "wiser" in the was of manipulation, etc. The girls are desperate to "make it" before they get too old, and they are trusting, and they are younger. Uncle Terry uses his professional position to prey upon these weak young victims. He is dumb enough to publish himself.

He disgraces photography, and whatever his work, his legacy will be marred-FOREVER!. If I had a daughter, I wouldn't want her near this POS, and I would never want his reputation-would any of you?

sek

 

[RAKAMRAK]

Everyone is chiming no, so why not me.

My take. What are the given here?

1. Some of you are claiming that he is an well known sleaze.
2. Apparently he "can make" careers, at least there is this perception among aspiring models and that is why they go to him, that is why he get the power to coerce.

I am not going to argue whether it is immoral/unethical/illegal to do what he is doing. Those are rather philosophical and legal questions. I would also not argue whether girls wanted/deserved/craved for what they got. and whether they could decide not to go to him or not.

But my point derived from the above two givens is

"Why does the modelling industry support him (or him like other sleaze bags?)"

He derives the power to exploit because of the modelling industry. Clearly the modelling "industry" as a collective does not "disapprove" his behavior - the larger "society" may. That is why there are laws (which are creations of the society at large) against blackmailing like this, but there is no such disciplining mechanism created by the modelling "industry" (or film industry against casting couch) against such behavior. Clearly the evidence says that the modelling "industry" does not consider this behavior as troublesome or wrong by the codes of that industry - that is why he can flourish and stay in business. Individual acting independently inside the modelling industry can surely dislike or disapprove him, but as a collective the "industry" does not do so.

By my moral standards he is "bad", but that is my personal opinion. As long as the industry he is in supports his behavior and does not explicitly take steps to correct it, he is just an opportunist from the perspective of that industry. The industry is equally to blame, not only Terry Richardson.

 

[drmikeinpdx]

TR has had this sleazy reputation for years. In the age of Google, I can't believe that any model who shoots with him does not know exactly how he operates. It seems likely that many models and clients must seek him out for this very reason, since there is nothing special about his photography. Do you suppose some of us are secretly jealous? LOL

I would speculate that shooting with him, then complaining later could even be a part of the model career path these days. You know the old saying that any publicity is good publicity. I think it works both for TR and for his alleged "victims."

Another old saying I like is: "Follow the money." I think it applies here.

Call me cynical!