Terry Richardson is under investigation by the NYPD's Special Victims Squad, according to a new report from The New York Daily News. The paper states that the photographer, who has been followed by rumors of sexual misconduct for years, is the subject of a number of sit-down interviews with multiple women by the police.
Among those women is Carol Bernstein, an ex-model who says that Richardson forced her to perform oral sex on him during a 2003 photo shot, as detailed in The News in December of last year. Lindsay Jones, another former model who says Richardson exposed himself to her and assaulted her in 2007 or 2008, also confirmed that she spoke to a detective. Advocacy group Model Alliance told the News that it has been contacted as well, and is participating in an investigation.
Richardson, whose work has appeared in Esquire, has denied allegations of sexual misconduct or abuse in the past, claiming all of the interactions were consensual. His attorney Brad D. Rose echoed that sentiment in regard to Bernstein's accusation:
“Ms. Bernstein knowingly and willingly posed for these photographs and at all times prior to and during the shoot, any contact she had with Mr. Richardson was consensual,” Rose told The News.
Jezebel reached out to Bernstein in response to the latest report, and she claims she has no interest in money or attention, but bringing Richardson's behavior to a stop:
“I didn’t do it for any kind of attention, I didn’t do it for any kind of money,” Bernstein told Jezebel about coming forward with her story. “But if I can help stop this person... he’s a monster, an absolute monster.”