28 Male Models and Assistants Accuse Mario Testino and Bruce Weber of Sexual Abuse

Mario Testino by Walterlan Papetti (CC BY-SA 2.0)

In December we reported that photographer Bruce Weber was being sued by male model Jason Boyce for sexual harassment and discrimination over Weber’s behavior during a 2014 photo shoot.

On Saturday, the New York Times reported that they spoke with 15 current and former male models who accused Weber of sexual harassment and abuse of power.

Additionally, the paper spoke with 13 models and assistants who accused photographer Mario Testino of sexual abuse as well.

Wrote the NYT: “The men recalled, with remarkable consistency, private sessions with Mr. Weber in which he asked them to undress and led them through breathing and “energy” exercises. Models were asked to breathe and to touch both themselves and Mr. Weber, moving their hands wherever they felt their “energy.” Often, Mr. Weber guided their hands with his own.”

It added: “In accounts going back to the mid-1990s, 13 male assistants and models who have worked with the photographer Mario Testino, a favorite of the English royal family and Vogue, told The Times that he subjected them to sexual advances that in some cases included groping and masturbation.”

Head over to the NYT for the sad and disturbing report.

Anna Wintour, artistic director of Condé Nast, said the company would no longer be commissioning work from the two photographers.

Fashion labels have also begun dropping the pair:

Burberry also said it had no plans to work with Testino again in the foreseeable future and there were reports that other brands including Michael Kors were reconsidering their relationship with the men.

A Burberry spokesperson said: “We take allegations of this nature very seriously. Burberry is committed to providing a just, safe and fair working environment and we have a zero-tolerance policy against any form of harassment, abuse or discrimination.”

Both men have denied the claims.

The post 28 Male Models and Assistants Accuse Mario Testino and Bruce Weber of Sexual Abuse appeared first on Towleroad.

28 Male Models and Assistants Accuse Mario Testino and Bruce Weber of Sexual Abuse

‘Falling for Angels’ Covers the Gay Threesome Issues

Many gay couples one day wonder if adding a third is right for them. This Silver Lake story is one of — caution or possibility?

www.advocate.com/falling-angels/2018/1/14/falling-angels-covers-gay-threesome-issues

Forget Blue Monday, You Need To Know About Samaritans’ Brew Monday
The third Monday of January has become known as “Blue Monday”, because it supposedly represents the “most depressing day of the year”. The concept has previously come under fire, however, for trivialising mental illness, which affects people all year round.

Samaritans has transformed Blue Monday into Brew Monday – a campaign dedicated to preventing suicide and improving the nation’s mental health.

The campaign tells the nation “don’t let things stew, get together for a brew”, encouraging us to invite a friend, family member or colleague for a cuppa and have a chat. 

The small act could make a big difference to someone’s wellbeing: research commissioned by Samaritans found eight out of 10 people believe getting together for tea and a talk makes them “feel better” about their day.

Life can be tough at any time of year and Brew Monday aims to get people talking, not just about tea, but about anything that may be bothering them.

Samaritans volunteers are giving out free tea bags at stations and events up and down the country, while workplaces across the UK, ranging from the Bank of England and PWC to Yorkshire Tea and McVitie’s, are staging Brew Monday tea and chat fundraising events.

The campaign has gained the support for a host of famous faces, including  comedian Ross Noble, TV and radio broadcaster Yasmin Evans, poet Hussain Manawer, Libertines vocalist Carl Barât, Years & Years lead singer Olly Alexander and Olympic champion Audley Harrison.

Yasmin commented: “Having a cup of tea, and sitting across the table from someone, you just put all your walls down and get a little bit comfortable, you have a conversation and a chat.

“What is comforting is, you know that the conversation is going to last as long as that little mug, so there’s no pressure. You don’t have to stay longer than the brew.”

It also seems us Brits believe tea and talking is a great way to connect with other people.

Nine out of 10 of those who responded to the survey of more than 2,000 people believe having a cuppa and a chat with someone who may be lonely is a good way of reaching out to them.

What’s more, seven out of 10 people aged 18-24 say they would like more time to sit and chat, while eight out of 10 students in full time education believe people should talk over a drink more often during the day.

Commenting on the launch of the initiate, Samaritans CEO Ruth Sutherland said: “Challenging feelings aren’t seasonal and pressures can pile up over time and become overwhelming.

“Samaritans’ Brew Monday gives you the chance to sit down with someone and talk to them, or listen to them over a cup of tea, or coffee if you prefer.

“No matter what your brew, it’s great to get together and support each other. We’re grateful to everyone who’s making it a date to raise funds for Samaritans too, so that for people who feel they have nowhere else to turn, we can always be there.”

Find out more about Brew Monday and download a resource pack here.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/samaritans-transforms-blue-monday-to-brew-monday-encouraging-the-nation-to-share-problems-over-a-cuppa_uk_5a58c15fe4b02cebbfdb1e4e

Chelsea Manning’s Senate Run Is Met With Enthusiasm, Transphobia

The transgender whistleblower’s political campaign has sparked strong reactions on both sides of the political spectrum.

www.advocate.com/politics/2018/1/14/chelsea-mannings-senate-run-met-enthusiasm-transphobia

Top-News To Go: Fast jeder zweite abgelehnte Asylbewerber darf doch bleiben

www.huffingtonpost.de/entry/top-news-to-go-fast-jeder-zweite-abgelehnte-asylbewerber-darf-doch-bleiben_de_5a5bcb2ee4b04f3c55a3c763

‘McMafia’ Episode 4 Review: 8 Questions It Left Us Asking
After the third episode of ‘McMafia’, it still felt like we were waiting for something of any real consequence to happen.

Unfortunately, Sunday (14 January) night’s instalment did nothing to really tie up the various strands of the story that are currently developing, mainly focussing on Vadim’s heroin shipment from Pakistan into Mumbai.

While we might currently be doubting whether the series is a case of style over substance, there were still plenty of questions we had as the titles rolled…

So, what did Alex do with Boris’s killer?

You’ll remember at the end of the last episode ‘Antonio’ revealed he had captured Boris’s killer for Alex to do whatever he wanted with, but it seems we’ll have to wait for an answer on what actually happened to him.

Who was watching Benes at Hancil’s funeral?

Ok, it doesn’t take a genius to work out that the chances are they’re probably part of Vadim’s gang, but why hasn’t Vadim taken quicker action against Benes if he knows where he is?

Why did Dilly have to kill the accountant?

Of course we understand he had to do away with him to cover his tracks, but still. Just shows it never pays to stay in the office late.

Why did Karin go and talk to Rebecca about the funds?

Yes, Karin is more than just an employee to Alex, but you’d be seriously pissed off if one of your workers was going around talking about your business dealings with your other half – particularly if they were not 100% above board.

If we were Karin, we’d expect to be getting a disciplinary come Monday morning.

Did Benes’ daughter actually have drugs on her?

It’s a minor point, but we knew that Benes’s daughter has a problem with drugs, so were the ones that were confiscated from her at the nightclub door actually hers? Was it part of Vadim’s plan to get to Benes’s phone, or a happy coincidence?

Is Semiyon more dangerous than he makes out?

After Rebecca met up with one of Semiyon’s previous business associates, he hints he killed someone while working in aluminium shipping.

This came after he’d told Alex he wouldn’t “put him in a grave if he messed up” unlike others, but we wouldn’t be taking his word for that if we were Alex. 

Who killed Chopra?

Vadim’s associate was seen dead on some wasteland after Dilly successfully pulled off the heroin heist, and while we’re guessing Vadim must have ordered his death for failing the job, who did he get to do his dirty work?

Will Rebekah call off her engagement?

After Rebekah caught on to the web of lies Alex has spun to cover up his dodgy dealings, it seemed like she was having second thoughts about his proposal. Will he be forced to choose between his fiancée or getting revenge on Vadim?

′McMafia′ continues next Sunday at 9pm on BBC One.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/mcmafia-episode-4-review_uk_5a58b646e4b02cebbfdb0665

Michelle Williams Thanks Anthony Rapp After Wahlberg’s Time’s Up Donation

“Anthony Rapp, for all the shoulders you stood on, now we stand on yours.”

www.advocate.com/people/2018/1/14/michelle-williams-thanks-anthony-rapp-after-wahlbergs-times-donation