2:08 am - 06/19/2012
A former Abercrombie & Fitch employee has filed a $1 million lawsuit against the retailer and a modeling agent who he claims ordered him to strip and masturbate during a photo shoot so that he could appear “relaxed.”
Benjamine Bowers said he was referred to agent Brian Hillburn by an A&F casting director when he worked for the clothing chain last year, according to a lawsuit obtained by TMZ.
Hilburn allegedly flew the male model out to a photoshoot in Jackson, Mississippi, where Hillburn persuaded him to masturbate nude in order to get a more “relaxed” look for his modeling portfolio.
The shoot reportedly took place on June 17, 2011.
Bowers claims in the suit that Hilburn exposed himself after Bowers finished masturbating and began commenting on the size of their penises.
The former A&F employee, according to TMZ, “feels used and believes the photos were never intended to help his career... but just to give Hilburn a cheap thrill."
This is not the first time the retailer has landed in hot water over claims it treated employees unfairly.
Abercrombie & Fitch’s Milan outpost was once accused of punishing employees with push-ups and squats in March, according to The Daily Telegraph.
In 2011, the chain came under fire for marketing and selling padded bikini tops to 7-year-old girls, Fox News reported.
In 2005, Abercrombie & Fitch paid $40 million in a class-action discrimination lawsuit to employees who accused the retailer of putting them in less-visible jobs because they didn’t fit the Abercrombie “look,” according to USA Today.
NY Daily News
TMZ
This is absolutely disgusting, doesn't this technically qualify as sexual harassment as well?
Male model files $1 million lawsuit against Abercrombie & Fitch
A former Abercrombie & Fitch employee has filed a $1 million lawsuit against the retailer and a modeling agent who he claims ordered him to strip and masturbate during a photo shoot so that he could appear “relaxed.”
Benjamine Bowers said he was referred to agent Brian Hillburn by an A&F casting director when he worked for the clothing chain last year, according to a lawsuit obtained by TMZ.
Hilburn allegedly flew the male model out to a photoshoot in Jackson, Mississippi, where Hillburn persuaded him to masturbate nude in order to get a more “relaxed” look for his modeling portfolio.
The shoot reportedly took place on June 17, 2011.
Bowers claims in the suit that Hilburn exposed himself after Bowers finished masturbating and began commenting on the size of their penises.
The former A&F employee, according to TMZ, “feels used and believes the photos were never intended to help his career... but just to give Hilburn a cheap thrill."
This is not the first time the retailer has landed in hot water over claims it treated employees unfairly.
Abercrombie & Fitch’s Milan outpost was once accused of punishing employees with push-ups and squats in March, according to The Daily Telegraph.
In 2011, the chain came under fire for marketing and selling padded bikini tops to 7-year-old girls, Fox News reported.
In 2005, Abercrombie & Fitch paid $40 million in a class-action discrimination lawsuit to employees who accused the retailer of putting them in less-visible jobs because they didn’t fit the Abercrombie “look,” according to USA Today.
NY Daily News
TMZ
This is absolutely disgusting, doesn't this technically qualify as sexual harassment as well?
and it's so ridiculous when your name is vagtown... what is this conversation I am even having?
you see more people going "omg ontd feminist!!!1" than you ever see the actual comments, its ridiculous
its on par to people posting those popcorn gifs and then nothing fucking happening, embarrassing
also i laugh at the person going "i am a feminist" then using "ontd feminist" as if it is something to be ashamed of, gross junior high school shit tbqh