September 3, 2021 | Sex & Society

Bruce Weber settles sexual assault suit

Photographer Bruce Weber has ended his long running legal battle with a group of former models who accused him of sexual assault.

The artist, now 75, has long been celebrated as one of the best photographers of the male form, with his talents used for ad campaigns by companies like Calvin Klein and music videos for groups like The Pet Shop Boys.

However, his reputation took a major hit when four models -- Josh Ardolf, Anthony Baldwin, Jacob Madden, and Jnana Van Oijen -- accused Weber of groping them during photo shoots and pressuring them to do nude or sexually suggestive shoots.

“I did witness Bruce take one of the younger models away from the scene into a private shooting, private setting … I don’t remember who it was, but somebody turned around and quoted to me oh, he’s going to get ‘Brucified,” Van Oijen said in court documents.

Baldwin claimed that Weber groped him in his underwear during a shoot for Abercrombie & Fitch. He also said Weber wanted him to model nude, a request he refused.

The terms of the settlement have not been revealed, though the photographer did not admit any guilt.

“The parties have chosen to put this matter behind them and move forward with their lives," Arick Fudali, partner at The Bloom Firm, said.