In January, 15 male models accused fashion photographer Bruce Weber and 13 male models and assistants accused Mario Testino of sexual misconduct, highlighting not only the alleged abuse that happens in the fashion industry, but that sexual harassment and assault is a very real issue for men too. Now, in an interview with The Cut, two of those who have accused Weber of sexual misconduct explain the repercussions they faced as a result of coming forward, proving that men face a lot of stigma when opening up about their own experiences with sexual misconduct.
According to The Cut, models Jason Boyce and Mark Ricketson said they experienced harassment from Weber, and that alleged behavior was well known among male models, but few ever talked about it. Models would joke, the two said, about the "breathing exercises" Weber would allegedly guide them through, making them undress while he touched them inappropriately. Boyce and Ricketson said they didn't speak up previously about the alleged harassment because of perceived standards of masculinity. When they did, Boyce and Ricketson said they were met with those same perceptions, but from other people.
"I think there’s a stigma with guys," Boyce, who filed a lawsuit in December against Weber, told The Cut "I think it’s a lot more uncomfortable. The biggest pushback that I’ve gotten is, ‘Physically you could have just beat him up. Why didn’t you?’"
But, Ricketson pointed out that you never know how you're going to react in these situations until it happens to you.
"And I was that guy," he said. "I was like, ‘Oh, that would never happen to me.’ But when someone has a mental hold on you, anything physical goes out the window. It doesn’t matter how big or strong or awesome or fight-skilled you are, whatever."
Ultimately, though, it shouldn't be the victim's burden to fight off their alleged harasser or attacker, no matter their gender or physical build. They just shouldn't be harassed or attacked in the first place. This isn't the first time we've seen this. When Terry Crews alleged he was groped at a Hollywood party, he addressed why he didn't fight his alleged assaulter.
"I was going to kick his ass right then— but I thought twice about how the whole thing would appear," he wrote. "'240 lbs. Black Man stomps out Hollywood Honcho' would be the headline the next day."
He also addressed one reason why many people, of all genders, don't come forward.
"I decided not 2 take it further becuz I didn’t want 2b ostracized— par 4 the course when the predator has power n influence. I let it go. And I understand why many women who this happens to let it go. Who’s going 2 believe you? ( few) What r the repercussions?(many) Do u want 2 work again? (Yes) R you prepared 2b ostracized?(No)," he wrote on Twitter.
Boyce also accused his former agent, Jason Kanner, of being complicit in the alleged abuse. He said because many men don't speak up, others are getting away with rampant harassment. It's all, he said, because of standards of masculinity.
"Guys, we think we’re strong because we hold it all in and don’t talk about it. I beat myself up for years over this. I remember thinking, I wish somebody would say something," he said. "Because these guys are getting away with murder. All of them, from agents to casting directors to clients to photographers, they all know what’s going on. And nobody’s saying anything, because they can count on us as men holding all that in. Because as guys, we don’t want to talk about it. And then I think it just kind of clicked, like, Oh, it’s me. I’m going to be the guy to do this.”
Related: Fashion Photographers Bruce Weber and Mario Testino Accused of Sexual Assault
