And honestly, I was a victim of the pressure around what it means to be a man in today’s society. I was scared - I’m still a working model, and until I could support myself as a writer and artist, I wasn’t willing to risk losing my main source of income. When I first spoke up about my experience with Bruce Weber and sexual harassment in the modeling industry, I chose to remain anonymous. I’d met and worked with other famous photographers before, but no one described as a “god.” The pressure was on from the start.
I was a 23-year-old model, with a rough idea of who I was and what I was willing and unwilling to tolerate. I’d heard Weber called a “god” in the industry, a man who could make or break my career. I checked my email and there it was: the original casting from my agent at the time, labeled “by photographer’s special request.” I still remember the initial exchange so vividly.
The first time I met Bruce Weber was eight years ago. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here. The archives will remain available here for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years.
