Eye | Kate Upton Joins the #MeToo Convo, Accusing Guess Founder Paul Marciano Of Sexual Harassment

Friday Feb. 3 updates: 

Guess Inc. responds to sexual harassment allegations against co-founder Paul Marciano ABC News

1) Fashion mogul Paul Marciano, co-founder of Guess? Inc., is denying sexual misconduct allegations made by two models, including one who filed a lawsuit alleging that Marciano repeatedly touched her inappropriately in front of coworkers and whispered inappropriate remarks in her ear.

2) Asked about Marciano on Thursday, Lopez, who is the face of Guess' new spring 2018 campaign, said in a statement, “My position on these issues is well known, as I have been very vocal about them. I do not condone any acts of sexual harassment, violation, or misconduct. Any accusations should be fully and thoroughly investigated. I will continue to support our rights as women."

3) On Wednesday, the celebrity news website The Blast published a report, in which an aspiring fashion model claimed Marciano inappropriately touched her and attempted to kiss her during a business meeting at Guess? headquarters in Los Angeles in March 2016.

The website also uncovered a 2009 lawsuit filed against Marciano by a model who worked for Guess?, in which she claimed she was sexually harassed repeatedly by Marciano. The lawsuit, which has been settled, was obtained by ABC News.

Guess? released a statement saying the allegations in The Blast story were "immediately investigated with the assistance of outside counsel."

Guess stock plummets after Kate Upton accuses exec of harassment CNN Money

Guess's stock price fell 18% Thursday, after the Kate Upton accusations, making it the worst day of trading for Guess?, Inc. since 2012. The selloff slowed on Friday -- a bad day in the market overall -- with GUESS shares falling from $15.42 to $14.61.

AOC has always been a strong supporter of Kate Upton and we are leaders in the #MeToo movement. We assume that Upton's claims are accurate and truthful. Simultaneously, it's important that Guess -- and the general public -- understand exactly what Upton's story and accusations are. Issuing a tantalizing comment that Kate looks forward to telling her story backs us in an ethics corner, when we are simultaneously ripping into author Michael Wolff today, for his innuendo that US UN Ambassador Nikki Haley is having an affair with Trump. It's important that women accusers be as responsible as possible in making accusations -- and especially those who can make or break brands, as Upton is doing. This is not a game.

Thursday Feb. 2: 

Former GUESS model Kate Upton added her voice to the #MeToo convo Thursday morning, using social media to speak out against Paul Marciano, co-founder of the company. 

Upton doesn't say if she is among the harassed women, but the inference is clear, with Upton saying that Marciano  "shouldn't be allowed to use his power in the industry to sexually and emotionally harass women."

Her post brought responses from others about Marciano's alleged misconduct.

The allegations comes days after the release of the newest GUESS campaign featuring Jennifer Lopez. We can only say that Paul Marciano couldn't possible have made a pass at Lopez, and if in some bizarre moment of ego gratification he did, Marciano should just pack up and leave LA at once because A-Rod will give him a night to remember. 

Marciano is one of four French brothers who co-founded Guess in 1981 as a brand breaking with the tradition of denim as a Levis-style working man's uniform and instead making denim a provocation-driven fashion must-have in the tradition of Brooke Shields also announcing in 1981 that "nothing comes between me and my Calvins." 

Kate Upton's own Guess experience happened in 2011 when she posed in a series of ads that channeled the brand's association with deceased Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith. 

The Daily Beast recollects that in the 1990s, Guess stitched the phrase 'Sweatshop Free' into its clothes. In fact, the company operated "dozens of sweatshops in California where immigrant laborers were paid under the minimum wage."

Edie Campbell On Sexual Harassment

Seconds before reading the Kate Upton news -- which will get dicey due to her history with Terry Richardson in building her career -- AOC uploaded a superb convo between Edie Campbell and Tim Banks on sexual harassment. Edie is one of the cover stars of LOVE's current issue. 

Campbell's insightful and focused observations on sexual harassment in the modeling industry are spot on, and she clearly is an 'old soul' and future 'wise woman'. On the subject of photographers, Edie agrees with Tim Banks that a golden age for women photographers is looming. 

AOC has a long history supporting Kate Upton and women's issues in and out of the fashion industry. Kate's AOC archives are not in order yet, but we will change them out today. ~ Anne