An Experience I had with a Major Model Predator in the Business

 

Regarding the abuse of models, actresses…When known model abuser and owner of VIP agency in Paris, Claude Haddad basically said to me in a serious tone, “You better work with our models or…” and I said “Or what? Are you threatening me? ” He just showed me a menacing smile. As I walked out of his office which was on Blvd. Sebastopol in Paris at the time, I decided then and there that his agency was boycotted indefinitely and that is what invariably happened. Everyone knew of his lesser than desirable escapades.

Sadly, when models from VIP would come to a casting at a magazine I was shooting for, I had to say, “I am so sorry, but I don’t work with VIP and until you change agencies, I will not be working with you”. He was one of the sleazballs from that epoch, i.e. the late 80’s! Just looking at him made me think, what a swarthy despicable piece of work! It makes me angry rekindling this episode in my life!

There were and are many more major predators in our biz, but this was an experience I had directly and in the face of one of them.

PS…as a caveat, I also boycotted Trump Models…

News Update: More on The Donald’s unsavoury sexual exploits: LINK

 

About Benjamin Kanarek
Fashion and Beauty Photographer. Some of the magazines I have shot for include: VOGUE (China, Portugal, Brazil, Italia, Paris and South America & Mexico editions), RG VOGUE Brazil, Harper’s BAZAAR (China, en Español & Latin America, Hong Kong, Italy editions), L’Officiel Paris, ELLE (Spain, Portugal and Greece editions), Madame Figaro (France), Cosmopolitan (France and Italy editions), Glamour (France), Votre Beauté, Jardin des Modes, Dépêche Mode, New York Daily News, Fashion District News, New York Times Magazine, W (British edition), WWD, Fashion Magazine (Canada), Flare (Canada), Oyster, Tank, WestEast…