Terry Richardson sued by second model claiming he forced her into sex, used photo for 'art'

May 2024 · 4 minute read

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Photographer Terry Richardson was hit with a second sex assault lawsuit filed hours before the deadline expired for special legislation which allowed the claim.

Caron Bernstein, a former model and actress, claims that the disgraced fashion photographer forced her to perform oral sex on him during a shoot in 2003 then published the images in his art book.

The allegations are nearly identical to those made by model Minerva Portillo, who filed her own lawsuit a day earlier.

Both claims were made under the Adult Survivors Act, the New York law that gave sex crime victims a one year window to file allegations which are normally outside of the statute of limitations. 

Bernstein’s lawyers said it was filed at the “11th hour” ahead of the deadline to make a claim, coming four hours before the midnight on Thanksgiving expiration of the law.

Other high profile men who were hit with claims shortly before the window expired include: Axl Rose, Sean “Puffy” Combs, Cuba Gooding Jr. and New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Caron Bernstein was a model in 2003 when she alleges that Richardson forced her into oral sex and used images of it in his book. She filed a lawsuit after reading almost identical allegations from model Minerva Portillo. WireImage

South African-born Bernstein, 53, claims the incident happened at Richardson’s studio in New York in what his assistant said was a shoot for V magazine.

Bernstein was told that the pictures were for a fragrance called “Sex” and that Richardson, 58, wanted to take “sexy” photos of her.

The high-profile photographer was a regular in Hollywood circles — including the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscars party — until allegations of sexual misconduct in 2017 prompted major publishers and advertisers to drop him. Alamy Stock Photo

V magazine has denied that it asked Richardson to do such a shoot, the lawsuit says.

The suit says: “Instead of engaging in a professional photoshoot with Bernstein, Richardson instead sexually assaulted Bernstein, without her express or implied consent, by holding Bernstein’s head and forcing Richardson’s erect penis into and out of Bernstein’s mouth repeatedly and then ejaculating Richardson’s semen on Bernstein’s neck, chest, and breasts.”

The lawsuit describes the attack as “oral sodomy” and claims that between five and eight of Richardson’s employees or assistants were present

Bernstein, who was part of the New York social scene as a model, alleges that Richardson exploited the attack in his art book and exhibition. Rich Press

Richardson “further abused and humiliated” Bernstein by taking photos of the assault as it happened.

These images appeared in his art book Kibosh and his exhibition “Terryworld” says the suit, which is seeking damages for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress as well as gender-motivated violence.

Richardson was one of the world’s most famed fashion photographers, shooting Pres. Obama, Miley Cyrus and a host of celebrities, until 2017 when he was accused of sexual assault and rape by numerous women during the MeToo movement.

That included Richardson who made similar allegations to her lawsuit in media interviews.

Minerva Portillo, a Spanish model with a career going back more than 20 years, accused Terry Richardson of forcing her into oral sex in a suit filed on the last possible day. She inspired Bernstein to act, the second model’s attorneys said. Getty Images

Her claims led to fashion designer Tom Ford – who Bernstein modeled for – defending Richardson, saying “I love Terry” and that he had never seen such behavior around him.

Bernstein responded at the time by saying that Ford’s comments were a “f—ing abuse of power.”

Bernstein began modeling at 14 and her acting credits include 2007’s “Resident Evil: Extinction.”

Her lawyer Albert Santoro said that she had seen the Post’s report about Portillo and was “humbled and inspired by her courage and bravery.”

The photographer’s links to Vogue made him a regular at its parties, including a 95th anniversary celebration where he posed with Kanye West and Jared Leto. Getty Images for Vogue

She “spent Thanksgiving with her attorneys” deciding whether to file her own lawsuit and decided to do so in order to stand “shoulder to shoulder with the other victims.”

The Post has contacted Richardson and his studio for comment.

He previously called allegations against him an “emotionally charged witch hunt.”

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