Fashion photographer Terry Richardson, who has been the subject of allegations of sexual exploitation, has been blacklisted from working with best-selling fashion magazines.
According to The Telegraph, an email - purportedly seen by the newspaper - circulated within the media group Condé Nast International on Monday (23 October) announcing that the company would no longer be working with him.
Staff were also informed that any work commissioned from the 52-year-old which hadn't already been published, be 'killed or substituted with other material'.
Condé Nast's titles include Vogue, Vanity Fair, Wired and GQ.
Over the weekend, The Times published an article asking why Richardson, who is being dubbed the 'Harvey Weinstein of fashion', was 'still feted by fashionistas?'
The New York-based photographer - whose photographs are known for being sexually explicit - has been plagued with allegations of sexually abusing models over many years, something he has always denied.
The Telegraph claims that within 24-hours of the article in The Times appearing, the email was sent to staff at Condé Nast.
The company's vice president James Woolhouse sent the message to 'country presidents' on Monday morning, writing: 'I am writing to you on an important matter. Condé Nast would like to no longer work with the photographer Terry Richardson.
'Any shoots that have been commission[ed] or any shoots that have been completed but not yet published, should be killed and substituted with other material.
'Please could you confirm that this policy will be actioned in your market effective immediately. Thank you for your support in this matter.'
Throughout his career, Richardson has worked with some of the biggest names in fashion and music including Beyoncé and Lady Gaga, and famously directed Miley Cyrus' naked Wrecking Ball video, which Cyrus later said she regretted (via The L.A Times).
In 2012, model Kate Upton spoke out against Richardson for uploading a video of her dancing in a red bikini without her knowledge or permission, and later revealed she confronted him over it.
'Yes, I did. I was like, "That was disrespectful, you could have told me!"' she told Alexa Chung in an interview for British Vogue. 'Now, obviously, it's fine.'
On Friday, Richardson wrote a letter addressing the 'rumours' surrounding his conduct which was published in The Huffington Post.
'I collaborated with consenting adult women who were fully aware of the nature of the work, and as is typical with any project, everyone signed releases,' Richardson wrote in the message.
'I have never used an offer of work or a threat of rebuke to coerce someone into something that they did not want to do.
'I give everyone that I work with enough respect to view them as having ownership of their free will and making their decisions accordingly, and as such, it has been difficult to see myself as a target of revisionist history.'
The fashion industry has faced scrutiny in the wake of the sexual harassment allegations being made against film mogul Weinstein.
The Los Angeles Times recently reported that Weinstein allegedly used his ties with the fashion world as a way of obtaining access to models.
Weinstein has apologised for some of his behaviour, but has denied all non-consensual sex allegations.
Richardson's spokesperson declined to comment to The Daily Telegraph.
Elle UK has also reached out for comment.
HEARST UK's STATEMENT:
Since Justine Picardie was appointed Editor-in-Chief of Harper's Bazaar in 2012 the magazine has not worked with Terry Richardson. During Anne-Marie Curtis' 13-years tenure at ELLE as Fashion Director and as current Editor-in-Chief, the brand has not worked with him. Esquire worked with him once in 2014 and once in 2012, but has no plans to work with him again. None of our other brands have worked with him, and none of them have any plans to in the future.
Naomi Gordon is news writer mainly covering entertainment news with a focus on celebrity interviews and television.
