Posts Tagged ‘ Sexual Harassment ’

Abercrombie & Glitch? Model Sues A&F Over Masturbation Request on Shoot

June 21st, 2012. By AbiK

If Abercrombie & Fitch doesn’t use sex—straight, gay, whatever—to sell clothes, I don’t know who does. But it’s their thing…and they’re doing what they wanna do—clearly with some success as measured (non-scientifically) by the number of American teen bedroom walls plastered with Abercrombie ad swipe and posters.

Using sex to sell clothes, however, isn’t as easy as it seems. It means hiring hot models and shooting casually suggestive poses—all while promoting the Abercrombie line. And shooting a casually suggestive shot can have a few glitches. Like, what if the model is having an off day and the photographer can’t quite elicit that relaxed, euphoric, post-sex look from the model?

Well, according to the $1 million sexual harassment lawsuit filed by former A&F employee and wannabe A&F model, Benjamine Bowers, getting the right look can apparently require some manual intervention. Bowers alleges that his modeling agent told him to take his clothes off and masturbate in front of the camera so that his euphoric look could be captured right as it was happening. (Who knows, maybe his agent’s been studying method acting…)

According to an article on Reuters, Bowers complied with the directive. While that could beg the question: ‘why he didn’t just say “no” and high-tail it out of there?’, visions of possibly becoming the next Abercrombie guy with a billboard splattered across Times Square apparently kept him there.

Regardless, the lawsuit goes on to allege that the modeling agent then showed his stuff (trying to keep it clean here) and was making comparisons between their equipment. Which, Bowers allegedly took as a bit of a come-on. Really?

Bowers lawsuit names Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister Co. California, AIG Model & Talent Management, A&F and Hollister affiliates, and two individuals, the modeling agent and Abercrombie’s casting director, as defendants. And, according to a report at Courthouse News, Bowers is seeking more than $1 million in damages for fraud, negligent misrepresentation, fraud in the inducement, rescission due to fraud, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, deceit, sexual harassment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and negligent hiring and supervision.

Tags: A&F, Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie Lawsuit, Abercrombie Model, Sexual Harassment
Posted in Emerging Issues, Employment, lawsuits | No Comments »

But was it Sexual Harassment? Pleading Ignorance takes a look…

October 29th, 2010. By Kristine B

If you’ve read the news lately, you more than likely read that Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill are back at it again. If you’re like me, you may have wondered if we hadn’t somehow gone into some time warp, circa 1991. Well, as one could predict, it was the old “he did it,” “she lied” debate. That debate won’t be tackled—or resolved—here at Pleading Ignorance—heck, I hardly have access to the pertinent information—but what we can discuss is what sexual harassment actually is—and is not.

“Hey babe, nice skirt…”

So is a remark like that sexual harassment—or not? Let’s see… 

Sexual harassment involves unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other conduct (either physical or verbal) that is of a sexual nature. These activities become sexual harassment when the recipient’s submission to or rejection of the conduct affects his or her employment, interferes with work performance or creates an intimidating or hostile work environment. 

The person being harassed does not necessarily have to fear the loss of a job for the situation to be deemed sexual harassment. Sexual harassment can involve promises of promotions or more favorable working conditions or, if the conduct is rejected, demotions or hostile work conditions. 

Sexual harassment does not have to involve parties of the opposite sex. Furthermore, although the harasser can be the employee’s supervisor, the harassment can also involve Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Pleading Ignorance, Sexual Harassment
Posted in Emerging Issues, Employment | 2 Comments »

Abuse is Abuse, Regardless of Gender

January 14th, 2010. By Hunter West

In late 2009 an upscale New York restaurant was hit with a lawsuit by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for alleged harassment against male employees by other male employees. The alleged abuse includes attempts to grab buttocks and genitals, pushing one’s body against another in a sexually suggestive fashion and the verbalization of crude, lewd and obscene comments. 

In Arizona, another EEOC lawsuit charged that male employees in the kitchen at a food preparation facility abused other male employees—including allegations of simulated rape. That incident resulted in the payout of a settlement benefitting the allegedly harassed workers.

It used to be that harassment was all about abuse against women—which is serious, of course. But equally serious is abuse against men. And it’s about time. 

Abuse, is abuse regardless of which gender is involved. And it’s a relief to see that men are now having the balls to admit to being harassed, either by male or female and are standing up for their rights. 

Thus, the courts should reflect just what is going on out there. And what is going on out there, along with harassment against women, is harassment against men. 

Face it, men have been abused for years. But the man never came forward. Doing so would be ‘unmanly,’ an Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Abuse, Sexual Harassment
Posted in Personal Injury | 3 Comments »

Sex Harassment on the Job: Who’s Sexiest of All?

August 19th, 2009. By AbiK

It’s the quintessential and stereotypical office drama played out in a tabloid: bombshell secretary gets her butt pinched by male higher-up. Or worse. Think that sounds pretty accurate for most sexual harassment cases? Think again. The “sex magnet” isn’t quite who you probably think it is.

A new study just reported that it’s actually not lower level female employees who suffer the most on-the-job sexual harassment. An article at HealthDay.com (8/12/09) shares the findings of the study conducted by University of Minnesota sociologist Heather McLaughlin. Guess what? Turns out female supervisors are more likely to be the target of sexual harassment.

The study looked at 600 men and women aged 29 to 30. The findings indicated that 36% of men and women experienced some form of sexual harassment (in 2004). Sexual harassament, by the way, included offensive material, discussions of sex, staring or leering, invasion of personal space, questions about one’s private life or unwanted touching. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Sexual Harassment
Posted in Employment | No Comments »