Bruce Weber Accused of Sexual Harassment by Male Model

Jason Boyce has filed a lawsuit against the fashion photographer for sexual misconduct.

Bruce Weber, one of fashion's foremost photographers, has been accused of sexual harassment by male model Jason Boyce in a lawsuit filed Friday in the New York State Supreme Court.

Boyce alleges that Weber pressured him to take off his clothes and touch his own genitals and says that the photographer put the model's fingers in his mouth during a photo shoot in 2014, reports the New York Post. According to Fashionista, the complaint details how Weber allegedly told Boyce during the shoot, "If you just had confidence, you’d go really far," and, "How far do you want to make it? How ambitious are you?" Weber also allegedly forced Boyce to kiss him before he left. Boyce was 28, and Weber was 68 at the time.

Boyce "suffered humiliation, emotional anguish and lost economic opportunities, including the end of his modeling career in New York" as a result of Weber's actions, according to the documents. Boyce moved to California in 2015.

"Mr. Boyce felt intense dread at the thought of a modeling career in an industry where Mr. Weber was considered by many to be a top photographer and primary champion of male models," according to the suit. "He was worried that he would continue to run into Mr. Weber throughout his career. He experienced anxiety, depression, and high levels of stress."

Boyce also named his former agent, Jason Kanner of Soul Artist Management, in the lawsuit. The court papers state, "Upon information and belief, Mr. Weber has engaged in similar conduct with other male models referred to him by Mr. Kanner and Soul Artist, and Mr. Kanner and Soul Artist are aware of such conduct."

Another male model named Daryl Janney seems to allude to having a similar experience in a new book titled Blacklisted, which is described as a "deeply personal memoir about the rapid ascent of Daryl Janney to become one of the top models in the world, working with most of the top photographers, including Bruce Weber, the Godfather of men's fashion." The email subject line used for media pitches of the book is this: "Bruce Weber the Harvey Weinstein of Fashion?"

Weber, who has worked for Vogue and Vanity Fair and has been a visual architect for iconic American brands Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein, is the latest fashion photographer to be accused of sexual misconduct. Terry Richardson, who's been accused of sexual harassment and assault for years, was recently banned from working with Conde Nast International titles, following the Harvey Weinstein scandal.