On January 13, The New York Times published an expose that detailed claims made by 13 models and former assistants (some dating back to the 90s), accusing renowned fashion photographer Mario Testino of sexual assault.
Following these sexual misconduct allegations, Burberry, Michael Kors, and Stuart Weitzman have vowed never to work with the photographer again.
In one statement, Burberry shared with Harper’s Bazaar how they have no future plans with Testino, saying, “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. The safety, security and welfare of the people with whom we work is a priority for Burberry and we seek to ensure all our partners adhere to our principles and policies and comply with all applicable laws and regulations.”
There is also Michael Kors, who firmly stated, “We recently learned of the allegations concerning Mario Testino. In light of the seriousness of these accusations, we will not be working with Mr. Testino on future advertising campaigns.”
Wendy Kahn, the chief executive officer and brand president of Stuart Weitzman, said that for the “foreseeable future”, the brand will not be working with Testino, as they “take these accusations very seriously and providing a safe and secure working environment where everyone feels respected is our foremost priority.”
Testino has since then denied the allegations, with his legal team Lagley & Singer challenging the “characters and credibility” of those who have made the claims, saying that they “cannot be considered reliable sources.”
The actions of these powerful designers, however, say otherwise. By doing this, they are paving the way for a just working environment for everyone in the fashion industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the article, Burberry, Michael Kors and Stuart Weitzman said they would not work with photographer Mario Testino in the future, after The New York Times published allegations against him. Stuart Weitzman’s statement said it would not work with him for the “foreseeable future.”
The article says The New York Times published a report on January 13 detailing claims by 13 models and former assistants, some dating back to the 1990s, accusing Testino of sexual assault. These are allegations, and the article gives no further details about them.
The article quotes Burberry telling Harper’s Bazaar that it has no future plans with Testino and takes allegations of this nature very seriously. It says Burberry has a zero-tolerance policy against harassment, abuse and discrimination and prioritizes the safety and welfare of the people it works with.
According to the article, Testino has denied the allegations. His legal team challenged the “characters and credibility” of the people who made the claims, saying they “cannot be considered reliable sources.” The article does not report any legal action or court outcome.
The article quotes Michael Kors saying that, given the seriousness of the accusations, it will not work with Testino on future advertising campaigns. It quotes Stuart Weitzman CEO Wendy Kahn saying the brand takes the accusations seriously and prioritizes a safe, respectful workplace.
