Terry Richardson hit with second sexual assault lawsuit as NY Adult Survivors Act expires
Another woman is coming forward, accusing fashion photographer Terry Richardson of sexual assault before the New York State Adult Survivors Act expires after Thanksgiving.
Caron Bernstein, a former actress and model, filed a lawsuit Thursday at the eleventh hour against Richardson in the New York Supreme Court, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY.
Bernstein alleges that in 2003 she was "lured" to Richardson's studio with a work offer. Instead of both parties engaging in a professional photo shoot, the photographer "sexually assaulted (her), without her express or implied consent, by holding Bernstein's head and forcing Richardson's erect penis into and out of (her) mouth repeatedly and then ejaculating (his) semen on (her) neck, chest, and breasts," the suit claims.
Bernstein's lawsuit against Richardson, who has faced sexual misconduct allegations in the #MeToo era, comes at the heels of Spanish model Minerva Portillo alleging the photographer "sexually assaulted her in front of his employees," per the lawsuit she filed Tuesday in New York and obtained by USA TODAY.
According to a statement from one of Berstein's attorneys, Albert J. Santoro, the former model spent her Thanksgiving with her legal team after feeling "humbled and inspired by Portillo's courage and bravery." She wanted to "stand shoulder to shoulder with the other victims," the statement continued.
In the suit filed Thursday, Berstein alleges Richardson "further abused, assaulted, and humiliated" her by publishing without her consent, photographs of the alleged assault; publishing sexually explicit photos of the assault in a book entitled "Kibosh"; and using the photos of him assaulting her at a New York art exhibition entitled "Richardson: Terryworld."
Bernstein, born in Johannesburg, began modeling at age 14 when she was awarded a modeling contract with Ford Models. According to IMDB, her acting credits include 2007's "Resident Evil: Extinction," 2002's "Grand Champion" and 1993's "Who's the Man?"
Known to models as "Uncle Terry," Richardson has been infamous since the 1990s for "an almost soft-porn aesthetic" featuring nudity, innuendo and simulated sex acts, according to The Guardian.
Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball" video, which Richardson directed, showed her on a giant wrecking ball naked except for a pair of Dr. Martens. He has photographed notables such as former President Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey, snapped layouts for Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and GQ, and directed videos for Beyoncé.
The latest:Fashion photographer Terry Richardson accused of sexual assault in new lawsuit
Terry Richardson accused of sexual assault by another former model
Portillo alleges she was given a drink she believed contained "an intoxicating or narcotic substance," and afterward Richardson took photos of her on set before assaulting her, groping her breasts and forcing her to perform oral sex, as well as posing in photos next to her while erect, according to the suit filed Tuesday.
The former model claims Richardson and his employees "photographed the assault while it was happening."
"There is a difference between provocative – but consensually made – art, and sexual assault," said Portillo's attorney, Christine Dunn. "Ms. Portillo alleges that this was the latter, and Mr. Richardson did not have the rights to distribute the images."
Portillo previously spoke publicly about her allegations in November 2017 to Spanish Vogue.
Another lawsuit filed Thursday:Sean 'Diddy' Combs accused of 1991 rape, drugging of college student in new lawsuit
What is the Adult Survivors Act?
The complaint was filed under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which has given victims of sexual abuse a one-year window for claims that would otherwise be barred by time limits. It is set to expire after Thanksgiving.
In recent days leading up to the Adult Survivors Act deadline, Jamie Foxx, Axl Rose, Interscope Records co-founder Jimmy Iovine, Cuba Gooding Jr., Sean "Diddy" Combs and his former Bad Boy presidentHarve Pierre, have all been sued for sexual assault.
If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE & online.rainn.org).
Contributing: Anika Reed