Where is Abercrombie & Fitch’s photographer ‘Bruce Weber’ Now? Let’s find him out. White Hot: The Rise and Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch, a new Netflix documentary, tells the narrative of the American clothing company, which peaked in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Mike Jeffries, the company’s longtime CEO, converted a failing label into a teen favourite. Even as the company grew, it failed its staff and consumers on numerous occasions, including hiring photographer Bruce Weber, who has subsequently been accused of sexual harassment and assault by over a dozen male models.
Some of the alleged instances occurred while Weber was working for Abercrombie & Fitch, and one model claims the term “Brucified” was used to describe Weber’s on-set behaviour. In the documentary, former Abercrombie model Ryan Daharsh states, “It was well known with Bruce that he favoured young men.” When the allegations against Weber became public in 2017 and 2018, the company dropped him as a photographer. He has categorically refuted all of the charges.
The commercial campaigns of photographer Bruce Weber contributed to Abercrombie & Fitch’s quick rise in popularity. ‘White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch,’ a Netflix documentary, follows Mike Jeffries as he takes over a failing firm and turns it around. The documentary investigates Bruce’s aesthetic becoming a part of the brand’s photoshoots, as well as multiple sexual misconduct charges against the photographer.
If you’re interested in learning more, we’ve got you covered.
Must Read: Where is Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO ‘Mike Jeffries’ Now?
What is Bruce Weber’s Background?
Bruce developed an early interest in photography and travelled to New York City, New York, in the 1960s to pursue acting. During that time, he began taking headshots of aspiring actors and actresses, which eventually led to his fashion career. Bruce established himself as a sought-after fine art and commercial photographer, working with fashion houses such as Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren.
Mark asked Bruce for photoshoots and ad campaigns as part of Abercrombie & Fitch’s relaunch. Throughout the 1990s, his efforts were important in growing the brand’s prominence. Bruce, on the other hand, was embroiled in controversy in the 2010s when numerous male models accused him of sexual assault. Jason Boyce submitted a complaint in December 2017 alleging that Bruce had previously touched and kissed him.
Another model, Mark Ricketson, claimed to have witnessed a similar incident at Bruce’s studio in 2005. “He told me I ‘looked stiff,’ and then proceeded to massage his thumb on my forehead,” Mark claimed. He then took my hand in his and instructed me to ‘locate the energy’ by guiding my hand to one of three locations: my forehead, chest, or stomach.
Each time, the energy in my stomach depleted to the point where I had to navigate the remaining space before touching myself. “I felt humiliated and ashamed.” Mark, on the other hand, kept quiet about it for fear of losing his job.
He was accused of exploiting fifteen current and past male models in January 2018. “I remember him putting his fingers in my mouth and groping my privates,” one of them, Robyn Sinclair, claimed. We didn’t have any sex or anything, but a lot happened. There was a lot of touching. “There’s been a lot of molestation.”
Models who refused to do nudity were often cut the next day, but those who accepted were kept on, according to Erin Williams, who worked with Bruce on some Abercrombie & Fitch advertisements. Then, in December 2018, five models sued in New York, alleging that Bruce had sexually abused them.
What Happened to Bruce Weber and Where Is He Now?
“I have used basic breathing exercises and professionally photographed thousands of naked models over the course of my work, but I have never touched anyone inappropriately,” Bruce said. These distorted and inaccurate claims are incredibly discouraging in light of my life’s effort.”
Following the initial allegations, Bruce seemed to fade from the spotlight, and Ralph Lauren, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Versace all dismissed him. He was seen at various parties in New York in the summer of 2018 and later. Bruce had reached out-of-court settlements in each of the claims filed against him by August 2021. It did not, however, include an admission of guilt. Bruce appears to have returned to work. His art was included in the fashion magazine Man About Town.
The images were offered for gratis, according to the creative director. Bruce just directed a documentary about the work of Italian photographer Paolo di Paolo. Bruce has continued to publish his images despite this. He lives with his partner, Nan Bush, and their pets on a personal level. They spend time in both Miami, Florida, and New York.
