True or Not? Terry Richardson's Alleged Text Messages to Felice Fawn
/Running in Jezebel is this story: ‘Terry Richardson: I Am A Pervert Like the Rest in Fashion’.
Terry Richardson is no stranger to controversy when the subject is sex and models. In this instance, freelance model Felice Fawn alleges that the following chat conversation went down between her and the star fashion photographer on Wednesday.
Terry may enjoy this moment of controversy, because it seems to us that Richardson isn’t producing as much fashion work these days. Uppidity women like me have bitched a lot about his assertions that every woman wants to be a porn queen.
I do believe that many women want to be more in touch with their sensuality, without being slut girls.
America struggles in the trenches over pursuing a positive sexuality. If it’s sex, it must be porn. Terry says it; religion says it; Conservatives say it — although they watch more porn than the rest of us.
My issue with Richardson is his ‘artistic’ (and I use the term loosely) eye for photographing women. There is no depth, no emotion, no engagement with his models. His detachment is profound, in the same way that other photographers with a perhaps more misogyistic eye, promote fashion monasticism.
In these images, woman is ‘elevated’ and imaged with more respect, but the control and lack of emotion or sensuality is similar in the images. (Read my October 2009 article: Ellen von Unwerth and Annie Leibovita Could Give Terry Richardson a Photography Lesson, When the Subject Is Erotic, Beautiful Women’.)
Having heard from a disgruntled press representative two weeks ago, and knowing that Jezebel’s parent Gawker is a substantive company that makes money, the post wouldn’t still be up if it didn’t carry a high possibility of truth to it.
In this small way, the high and mighty are held accountable for their words and images in a digital world.
Ironically, I have linked Jezebel’s Tracie ‘the Slut Machine’ to Richardson, suggesting that birds of a feather do flock together. Many young women have encouraged this view of sexual liberation, making our arguments about industry practicese and human sexual relations much more complex.
Consider that Rihanna says in her new Rolling Stone interview that she likes being spanked and whipped in the bedroom, inspite of her history of serious abuse growing up and her battered relationship with Chris Brown.
Different voices communicate different messages in American culture. While I loathe what Terry Richardson stands for, it’s not only men who promote complex views of women in and out of the bedroom, or in and out of the fashion industry.
Read Terry Richardson Promises To Make Every Woman A Porn Star. There is an extensive Terry Richardson video interview.
That’s all I say. Anne
This is that conversation, as published on Jezebel:
Felice Fawn: Hey there Terry.
Terry Richardson: hi there!
Felice Fawn: Thanks for your message, I’m flattered!
Terry Richardson: dont be, just doing my job
Felice Fawn: :)
Terry Richardson: do you happen to have a recent pict from you, a link, so i can see it before i offer something
Felice Fawn: Sure - www.felicefawn.com/model
Felice Fawn: The first set of images are from like, 2 days ago.
Terry Richardson: special look, congrats
Felice Fawn: Wow, thank you!
Terry Richardson: your age?
Felice Fawn: I’m 22
Felice Fawn: As of early March
Terry Richardson: looking 17, is good!
Felice Fawn: :D
Felice Fawn: Yeah most people say I look young!
Terry Richardson: can you handle open and direct talk?
Felice Fawn: How do you mean?
Terry Richardson: straight to the point, no ping pong
Felice Fawn: Oh right haha, yeah yeah
Terry Richardson: modelling is more then only a pretty face
Felice Fawn: Yeah of course
Terry Richardson: but most models do know how things go behind the scenes to get the fame
Terry Richardson: do you?
Felice Fawn: Maybe not, so tell me?
Terry Richardson: easy and simple, like i said, i am used to talk daily about it with the other models, it is sex drugs and rock & roll
Terry Richardson: dont tell me you do not know this
Felice Fawn: Yes I am aware, but I don’t do drugs and I certainly wont suck dick for fame.
Terry Richardson: thanks for the chat and wish you all the best, since there is only one real way for fame
Felice Fawn: Are you really Terry Richardson?
Terry Richardson: yes
Terry Richardson: who else i am, this account is connected with my ID and IP address
Terry Richardson: why the question?
Felice Fawn: Well you’re obviously incredibly renowned for your work, so I just count myself incredibly lucky to be contacted by you.
Felice Fawn: So thanks again for your compliments.
Terry Richardson: dont be, i am a pervert like the rest in fashion
Felice Fawn: So I have read.
Terry Richardson: your read good, we all are the same
Felice Fawn: Good on you for being so blunt about it though.
Felice Fawn: Most people don’t have the balls.
Terry Richardson: like i said, daily 20 models do offer me to fuck them for fame and all others i know in fashion also fuck around
Felice Fawn: Well I’m not like that I’m afraid.
Terry Richardson: but, would have shot you and published you for sure, but no prob
Felice Fawn: Sorry that I don’t fit the criteria.
Terry Richardson: you will be soon, i am 25 y in this bizz
Felice Fawn: Thanks again!
Terry Richardson: cu and be sure if you go for fulltime you also will be the same
Felice Fawn: I assure you that I wont be.
Felice Fawn: But thank you.
Felice Fawn: After all, I’m talking to ‘the’ Terry Richardson.
Terry Richardson: heard that millions time
Felice Fawn: And I did just say no.
Terry Richardson: you said no, but thinking yes
Felice Fawn: Absolutely not. Overwhelmed by the fact you contacted me yes, but considering selling my body for fame? Never.
Terry Richardson: then you need to work at mc donald, this is the lifestyle
Terry Richardson: but i respect it
Terry Richardson: no worries, i never push
Felice Fawn: To think that one needs to either work at McDonalds or fuck for a successful career is an incredibly strange outlook on life, but that’s okay.
Felice Fawn: Thanks again Terry, I enjoy your work.