Titles at Condé Nast Worldwide News boutique in London. Image credit: Condé Nast
Media group Condé Nast International has issued an official statement regarding its stance on sexual harassment and exploitation claims within the fashion industry.
Earlier this week, Condé Nast International announced that its titles would no longer work with controversial photographer Terry Richardson, who has long been accused of being predatory, with offenses ranging from pressuring models to pose nude to sexual assault and harassment (see story). Since Condé Nast’s decision, brands including Valentino, who had worked often with the photographer, and publishers such as Hearst and The Wall Street Journal’s WSJ. Magazine have ended their relationship with Mr. Richardson.
Zero tolerance
On Oct. 27, Condé Nast International chairman and CEO Jonathan Newhouse and Condé Nast CEO Bob Sauerberg issued a joint statement discussing its concerns . The official statement was shared on British Vogue’s Web site as well as the publisher’s corporate communications page.
Mr. Newhouse and Mr. Sauerberg’s statement can be read below:
“Condé Nast is deeply concerned by the recently surfaced allegations of sexual harassment in our industry. There are no excuses for this type of behavior; it is completely unacceptable.
“The company expects all employees, freelance contributors and others that Condé Nast retains to act appropriately and with the utmost personal and professional respect for each other, when working on behalf of the company and its brands, advertisers and clients.
“All employees, freelancers and independent contractors must understand the company’s expectations of appropriate behavior and treatment of others.
"Condé Nast also expects the agencies that represent hired talent to develop, circulate and reinforce with their clients what is and is not acceptable behavior in interacting with others, with particular emphasis on protecting people who are in vulnerable positions in their professional relationships.
“Condé Nast is committed to working with our colleagues and partners to help find solutions to the problems of all types of harassment in our industry. The company calls upon other like-minded publishers, relevant trade organizations and talent representatives to join us in this effort.
“To that end, we will be reaching out to the major agencies with whom the company does business to put such a program in motion.”