Emily Ratajkowski Accuses Photographer Jonathan Leder of Past Sexual Assault
Emily Ratajkowski has accussed photographer Jonathan Leder of sexual assault in a powerful essay published on Vulture.
The 29-year-old model and actress recalled that her photoshoot with Mr. Leder happened back in 2012 when she was just 21 and was held at his home in the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York.
She had been advised by her agent to stay the night with him when the shoot was over.
“When I looked up Jonathan’s work online, I saw a few fashion editorials he’d shot on film,” Emily wrote. “His work on Google looked celestial and pretty. Legit. I didn’t bother to investigate further. Besides, my agent was in full control of my career: I did what she told me to do, and in return, she was supposed to expand my portfolio so I could book more paid jobs and establish myself in the industry.”
Emily added that she had posed in “old-fashioned lingerie” before he allegedly told her to take off her clothes.
“I’d been shot nude a handful of times before, always by men. I’d been told by plenty of photographers and agents that my body was one of the things that made me stand out among my peers. My body felt like a superpower,” she wrote. “Still, though, the second I dropped my clothes, a part of me disassociated. I began to float outside of myself, watching as I climbed back onto the bed. … The next thing I remember is being in the dark.”
Emily describes the assault as a blur, as she was left alone with Mr. Leder as the makeup artist wasn’t in the room.
She says that she doesn’t remember much but “most of what came next was a blur except for the feeling. I don’t remember kissing, but I do remember his fingers suddenly being inside of me.”
After that night, Emily returned to New York City and years later, Mr. Leder had published the photos in a book. She adds that she never signed a release at that time and sent him and his team a cease-and-desist order.
In a statement to Page Six, Mr. Leder denies Emily‘s claims.
“We are all deeply disturbed to read Ms. Ratajkowski’s latest (false) statements to NY Mag in her never-ending search for press and publicity,” Mr. Leder‘s rep said. “Of course Mr. Leder totally denies her outrageous allegations of being ‘assaulted.’ It is grotesque and sad that she is so vindictive to lie in such a way to the press routinely.”
They added, “She knows she has no legal recourse to stop publication, so bad mouthing the photographer (again) with salacious accusations seems to be her newfound answer. It is a shame, because the photos are really powerful and they are beloved by so many of her fans.”
Just recently, another actress accused this director of sexual assault, who also denied the claims. See what happened here…
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