Benjamin Bowers said that in June 2011, he was doing a shoot for Abercrombie & Fitch when the agent who flew him to the shoot had Bowers strip and then masturbate to help him relax. After Bowers finished, the agent then decided to compare what each of them had. Bowers is now suing the company for $1M. Why did he do it? Do you think it would have been that hard for him to say no? Was he afraid of not getting the job? Obviously the model had been flown to a different city and might not have been sure how he was going to get home if he did not do what he was told. Also he probably wanted to make sure he got the career boost and was afraid to say no. Do you think if this was a female model and a male agent that you would have different thoughts in your head then you do because it is two men?
Ugh just more news that this company is a piece of shit. They hire "models" as sales clerks, so they can fire them if they gain weight or alter their appearance. They increase diversity by hiring the 'ugly' people to work in the backroom and refold clothes.
ReplyDeleteYou ask some good questions, but I think the model is angry because he was tricked into making a porn video for the Abercrombie & Fitch agent. It had nothing to do with relaxing etc, and to be fair the kid is new and inexperienced.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely don't think of it any differently than if it was a female model. Especially not with the Sandusky trial going on right now.
ReplyDeleteWTF is wrong with people?? That is obviously a rhetorical question, as the list would be too GD long.
Not cool yo. He's just a young kid, he doesn't know anything any more that the female models do.
ReplyDeleteexactly your last sentence, enty.
ReplyDeletei hope that his claims are taken as seriously as if he were a woman.
I would not think of it differently if it was a female model with a male agent or a male model with a female agent. This is all about power and control and that can happen in any industry.
ReplyDelete"Do you think if this was a female model and a male agent that you would have different thoughts in your head then you do because it is two men?"
ReplyDeleteProbably yes. Which is wrong, clearly.
this is sexual harassment clear and simple. he felt pressured and he wanted the job and he went along, because he was in shock about what they were asking. whether he said no or not, its still sexual harassment.
ReplyDeleteso, he actually had no choice - do what I ask and get the job, don't do what I ask and get fired. not a choice.
I always laugh when people say that enty isn't a lawyer because his grammar is bad (ridiculous claim) or spelling or whatever. but, seriously enty, you should have more compassion for this guy. if he were your client you could easily make a case for him.
"...but why male models?"
ReplyDeleteI think it's sad that the kid went along with it, but he may have been scared or just dumb. Let's be real, not everyone has common sense. That doesn't make what happened to him less wrong.
ReplyDeletePure sexual harassment, and it's wrong.... period. It really pisses me off when people speculate on what they would do in the situation. 1) everyone is different 2) unless you have been in that position, you have no clue. You may be able to "imagine" unless it's your livelihood, food, shelter, child care or whatever on the line... you really don't know what reaction you would have.
ReplyDeleteSo, um, where can one see these photos?
ReplyDeleteI'm so kidding. I agree with all of you...he was young, taken advantage of, vulnerable and had he been a woman it would be no more or no less wrong.
A friend's kid is a 17 year old model with a big NY agency, and my friend also thinks my own 17 year old son should model. I'm afraid of stuff like this--I would not be surprised if this went on fairly often. (Fortunately, when I asked my son if he wanted to model, he just replied "Are you kidding me? NO.")
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely a case of sexual harassment/assault. What makes sexual harassment so heinous is the offender is in a position of power and can take away something important from you if you don't do what you're told. People allow things under duress they normally wouldn't do. Even if he wasn't "forced" it's implied that if you don't do what you're told, you will pay the consequences. I hope he gets $10 million.
ReplyDeleteIt's about time some of the behind the scenes crap of this company came out. The CEO is in his 60's, dresses like he's in his 20's and surrounds himself with barely out of their teens boys. The models for the company are routinely exploited...and even the stores hire their kids on looks alone. Company line makes sure sizes are all ridiculously small (a size 2 for Abercrombie is like a 00 in any other brand) because they don't want to see unattractive (aka "fat") people wearing their clothes. That stuff isn't illegal (just sleazy) but the harassment and discrimination in employment IS. Hope they get busted and exposed as well.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't new for a casting couch experience, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteHow old was this kid when this happened? Just wondering - it's a disgusting power play regardless - just wondering if he was a minor. Seems there would be other legal ramifications if he was.
ReplyDeleteHonestly.. what have we done to our youth that they so entirely lack good judgment? There must have been 100 ways out of this situation rather than comply. Don't get me wrong: I am not suggesting the kid is at fault but have we so coddled and ill prepared this generation to fend for themselves that they think dropping trau and masterbating on camera as a relaxation technique is legitimate?
ReplyDeleteAt 16 one of my first jobs was working at the May Co. tent sale on Wilshire back in the 80s. A ton of activity and many people using the cash registers set up in the tent. Somehow I got taken in by security because some cash was missing and i was young..
They tried to get men to confess through many tactics.. long story short.. I demanded they either call the police or let me call my parents. . They thought they had upper hand and let me call my parents. I talked to my father for 30 seconds to explain I WAS BEING HELD AGAINST MY WILL and told him I had not stolen anything. Gave the security officers the phone and grinned as they lost all color in their face and I walked out 2 minutes later and was offered a regular job that afternoon.
I only share this story because when you teach kids right from wrong and how to take care of yourself and some basic common sense and civic education... we don't do stupid shit that results in us suing for a million bucks and pretty much killing our chosen career in the process.
this is a story as old as time, the old prey on the youth and the youth expect to rise to the top for tossing some old geezers a few sexual favors.
ReplyDeleteWhat the kid is pissed about is not getting any work out of it. I also don't think A&F is actually legally responsible. They didn't contract or hire him out for work. He got pimped out for free by an agent and the kid went for it. If anything he should be suing for getting the pictures destroyed. Stupid is as stupid does.
But other than that I don't see any financial gain to be had other than trying to embarass A&F into a settlement to nip the bad publicity.
The last name "Bowers" is ruined for me because of the psychotic JD from the book IT. I'm instantly wary of anyone with that last name now.
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for this guy. He was prob young and scared of what would happen if he didn't do what was asked.
ReplyDeleteTotally harassed!
It's NOT the 1940's . Aren't kids these days supposed to be more savvy? Damn.....The kid just wanted something for next to nothing and is mad cause the "old geezer" got one up on him. So NO I don't feel any sympathy for him.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why he is suing the company, not the agent.
ReplyDeleteIsn't this just another case of "the casting couch"? But in this case the kid probably felt like crap afterwards and wanted to come forward and say stuff like this is wrong. I hope his claims are taken seriously.
ReplyDeleteNope. Exploitation and sexual assault are just that.
ReplyDeleteIt does mostly happen to women, though... since we are the sex class.
And it's almost always perpetrated by men.
Poor guy... but... what a fabulous nose he has. Wow.
Yeah... if his claims are taken "as seriously as if he were a woman", you can expect him to be blamed for it and the charges dismissed.
ReplyDelete