Five Models Accuse Bruce Weber of Sexual Misconduct in New Lawsuit

I represented some of the top models in the business since the late 60's. Each of them began their careers with Bruce. In the nearly 50 years I never had one complaint from any model, not one. Each of them came to great stature in the industry through the campaigns through Bruce Weber. Not one of these so-called models are with any top agency. Not one of them has any career that people in the industry know. The predators are people like these so called models and ambulance chasers like whatever lawyers they find.

What a miserable legacy for Bruce Weber. The people toasting him and feting him as though this predatory behavior doesn't matter are kidding themselves. Or they are blind to human decency. This molestation - and lying about it - point to Bruce Weber's lack of humanity. Paul Smith - what were you thinking?

Bruce Weber is a classic American photographer with a decades-long history of great work. These anonymous accusations all sound hollow and extortionist. The attorney representing these no-names is not credible.

This is character assassination by failures who hide behind anonymity. If you want to accuse someone, do so under your full name, not initials. We know the name of the accused. Who are the accusers? It's totally unfair and unequal that one is known and the accusers are not known.

I am getting tired of seeing "people" come forward and accuse. I want to see NAMES. They are adults. You want to try something in the media, stop hiding behind a blue dot!

This kind of molestation happens all the time in photography and advertising. Refreshing to see these men come forward.

Weber gets called out but the “victims” are identified only by their initials. Let’s even this playing field. If you’re over 18 and you choose to accuse someone of sexual misconduct, you’ve got to do so under your own name.

If anyone is clamouring for a hashtag to indignantly rally around, #Hetoo is available.

SO, this is the paradox that I gleaned from this article: Male models, who generally position themselves in front of the camera as what can only be described as sultry, and at times half-naked 'eye candy,' suddenly having difficulty with an artist who - - many years ago, mind you - - attempted to work with them to bring out a certain mood, or atmosphere...or better yet, to tap into the 'decisive moment' so beautifully captured time and time again by Henri Cartier-Bresson. Sex trafficking? Hardly. It's time to REALLY cry foul!

Fame must be such a lovely garment to bury oneself in and hide from Consequences. Wish we all could afford one. But then again, no.

most people desire sex, much more than they are getting, it's a market, a meat market, why not recognize that, provide it through free enterprise and move on? We are wasting time...

Happened to me in the restaurant business but at the time, 1980’s- no one believed me. And that men would sexually attack other men, it must be a hoax. It was no hoax.

People who are guilty of assault should be held accountable. That said, I don't understand how inappropriately touching someone on a casting couch means they are a victim of human trafficking???

Duh! This guy’s been suspect for years. The male model equivalent of Richardson. Let’s see where this goes. The industry is rife.

I wonder whether Weber’s acceptance back into the fold has to do with the gender of those who claim he assaulted them. I assume so.

Its horrible that this happens and I am sorry for the survivors. At the same time the entire modeling and entertainment business is based on exploitation and objectification. I don't look to it to be anything other than a bunch of shadowy behaviours. Sure some good stuff gets through, but it's mostly not exactly a gold standard.

"'Let the jury consider their verdict,' the King said, for about the twentieth time that day. 'No, no!' said the Queen. 'Sentence first—verdict afterwards.' 'Stuff and nonsense!' said Alice loudly. 'The idea of having the sentence first!'"--Lewis Carroll

First, it's the Catholic priests, now it's the priests of high fashion. Positions of power are easily abused.

Weber's status as a sexual predator has been an open secret for decades

Of course he exploited you.....have you seen your own photos?

I remember dialogue in his documentary film "Broken Noses" when it was acknowledged that he was getting kicked out of the boxing gym as he was trying to film some of the young boy boxers without their consent. I was surprised he did not edit out those comments since they made him seem like a perv creep. I saw the film one time, twenty years ago and I still have a vivid memory of this info in the movie because it revealed something that made him seem creepy and weird.

well know as a manipulative predator. approaches guys as a bro and slowly reveals his infatuation. addresses them with heartfelt gestures & reacts like a teenager when things don’t go his way. getting images with weber was very valuable to a male model. by the way, you think his photographs might be evidentiary?

If, by the current count, some 20 women had come forward to accuse Weber of wrong-doing I can't imagine Ms. Weintraub would have dared respond to the allegations in the way that she has harshly disparaging the complainants and their lawyer. Essentially labeling them liars and opportunists. One can only hope men who are the victims of sexual exploitation and harassment will despite the derision and hostility their claims encounter continue to come forward. Keep calling the perpetrators who felt they could wait this out to account and that dam will burst and the walls will come down.

What is most disturbing to me is the eager willingness, a zeal almost, to judge as guilty anyone who is accused of sexual misconduct. Anyone, that is, who is male and prominent in a male dominated field... Scant evidence is required in the court of (manipulated) public opinion, and zero proof. We live in the nation that created the best, fairest and most reliable and enduring guarantee of the rights of the individual and the rule of law (to date) that the world has ever known, but "innocent until proven guilty" is shouted down by the mob. I don't know if Weber is guilty, and neither do you. We don't know his character. We also don't know the character of the accusers. We do know that modeling is a hit or miss, fickle and limited-time-only industry. Just a tiny percentage get anywhere, and then only for so long. Anything depending on physical attractiveness is fleeting, and new faces appear every minute. And, spoiler alert, not every young adult with stars in their eyes is star material. Yes, this leaves an opportunity for the mighty and connected to abuse the aspiring young people, and I have no doubt that this happens. It also (these days) creates an alternate path toward financial enrichment for those who did not make the cut for reasons that have nothing to do with abuse. It's called a shakedown, and it isn't new either. And it has created a cash crop for the lawyers I would challenge you as I challenge myself: Ask yourself, "What if he's innocent?"

I hope that these accusations aren't true and also roll my eyes re: "fashion luminaries".

So now a total of 20 young men have stepped. Surely Weber and his lawyer know how disingenuous it comes across to protest his innocence? How many more victims are out there?

I have no sympathy for anyone who does what Mr. Weber is accused of doing. However, I am unwilling to treat accusation as proof. There has been too much of that, and it is becoming a habit that must necessarily entice abuse by those so inclined to self promotion and exploitation. I do not take his guilt as given because Ms. Bloom sued him or the NYT reported it. It is too serious for that. If this is sex trafficking, why is it only a civil suit? That is a serious crime.

I believe them. As usual, the claim is five guys are wrong and the one guy is right. I hope they get a lot of support.

Twenty years ago when I was looking for a job as a photographer’s assistant, Bruce Weber was the only one who required me to include a photo of myself with the application. I recognized that as the bad sign that it was, and decided not to send in that application after all.