Photo: REX USA/MediaPunch Inc.The latest sexual-harassment accusation leveled against photographer Terry Richardson might not have any legs.
On April 20, model Emma Appleton allegedly received a Facebook Messenger message from Richardson offering a spot in a Vogue photo shoot in exchange for sex. Richardson, who has repeatedly faced allegations of misconduct with his models, has denied that he sent the message.
Yesterday, the New York Post's Page Six reported that Facebook has reason to believe the profile that sent the message is fake, and it is not one of Richardson's verified accounts. The gossip column also spoke to online forensic expert Theo Yedinsky, who said the account was only two-weeks old and tied to "some random Gmail account." The paper neglects to mention this is the same Theo Yedinsky Richardson retained when the scandal broke to determine the authenticity of the account.
The photographer's reps told E! News last week, "Terry Richardson did not reach out to this woman. It was sent from a Facebook page that is fake. Terry has no knowledge of who sent this." Meanwhile, Appleton has deleted her Twitter account, and Vogue has distanced itself from Richardson.
Appleton did, however, post a note on her Instagram account: "If the account is fake, then it needs to be removed. If it is real, then he is a hideous human." The problem is, Richardson's sordid reputation precedes him. Even if the message was a fake, it was easy enough for many people to believe it was real. (New York Post)