Abercrombie and ex-CEO sued over sex trafficking accusations

[Guest]

8 hours ago, jessmapex said:

I dont quite understand Coolwave's rape allegation. Oral play and anal play are both common acts in gay sex. So if during the same play session, the masseur performed one sexual act, it's ok, but if he performed another sexual act for which no explicit 'no' was said, it's rape?  Very confusing. 

Does this mean during consensual sex one has to get separate consent for every act? 

 

For starters, it isn’t an allegation. I was there. 

To answer your question, yes. When I first hired him, we talked about the release. We talked about it when he used his hand. We talked about it when he offered to use his mouth.  There was NEVER a discussion about him fucking me.  I consented to a hand job and a blow job. I even trusted him because we discussed those things and for years the session didn’t stray.

What happened the last time was different, unexpected, non consensual and violating. just because I agreed to be naked in a room with him didn’t mean I agreed to be penetrated during a massage. 

[BrklynNYC]

Of course every step of the way needs consent. What if he wants to start fisting, is that presumably included in the sexual agenda when everyone's naked? You can go on and on ....

[TonyDown]

 

Jeffries has been gone nearly 9 years.   I don't know much about him, yet I assume a company CEO that allows piggy workplace behavior is taking his eye off the business enough to allow competitive advantage to languish.

Their stock price has skyrocketed over the last year.  The shareholders must be relieved the Jeffries affairs are in the past.

 

 

[MikeThomas]

WTF did he do to his face??

Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries arrested on sex trafficking charges

STOCKS.APPLE.COM

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Jeffries, along with two associates, were arrested on sex trafficking and interstate prostitution charges, New York prosecutors announced Tuesday morning.

 

[marylander1940]

On 10/30/2023 at 8:51 AM, maninsoma said:

I see a huge difference between coercion (as in the example above of threatening to out someone if they won't do sex work) and someone who wants to make money based on their looks being invited to places to have sex for money where they can freely decline to participate or, for that matter, to simply decline the invitation. 

Do you think they can freely say "thanks but no thanks"? He was the CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch. Modeling is a competitive profession; they went through castings hoping to get a job that could transform their career.

Predators like Cosby and him know how to lure people and strike when they least expect it. 

I'm not surprised about some of the reactions on here. Just like in the thread about the Playboy mansion many will unfortunately say "they had it coming", "they deserved to be raped after posing naked", etc. 

Let's hope no one says models are stupid but I think it's coming. 

Edited October 22, 2024 by marylander1940

[marylander1940]

On 10/31/2023 at 6:53 PM, Coolwave35 said:

I was repeatedly molested the summer I was 8 years old.
 

30 years later, I had a masseur that would always blow me at the end of our sessions. I loved it. I looked forward to it. I saw him probably 24 times over 3 years. It was great. He was great. 
 

At my last appointment, he raped me. I was on my stomach looking forward to my blow job when I rolled over.  He got on top of the table, spit on his dick and popped it in. I froze. I felt 8 years old again and trapped. It was awful. I didn’t give him any indication that I wanted penetration. We never spoke of it. I didn’t insinuate that I wanted it. There were no misinterpreted signals. He saw my bare ass and he took it. I couldn’t move. I had no idea what to do and just laid there. 
 

I agree that there is a rape culture in America.  I also believe that people find themselves in sexually charged situations and freeze. I think when you have a little bit of distance from the trauma, you realize that you weren’t giving consent.  I also think the regret is tied to the inaction. I was so mad at myself for not stopping him. I regretted not beating the shit out of him. 

You froze, it was unexpected, he lured you and took advantage. 

Models went for something similar; it wasn't "carrot and stick" situation where they had a choice about putting out or not, I wouldn't be surprised if the doors behind them were locked, etc. 

Thank you for sharing! Big hug and stay strong!

[BaronArtz]

Former Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries charged with 16 counts of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution

Well, now he is CHARGED with sex trafficking and interstate prostitution involving male 'models'.  Let's hope it didn't involve underage 'models'.

 

[Whippoorwill]

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/22/business/mike-jeffries-arrested-sex-trafficking-abercrombie.html?ogrp=ctr&smid=url-share

 

[56harrisond]

8 minutes ago, Whippoorwill said:

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/22/business/mike-jeffries-arrested-sex-trafficking-abercrombie.html?ogrp=ctr&smid=url-share

 

Former Abercrombie C.E.O. Charged With Running Sex-Trafficking Ring
Prosecutors said dozens of men had accused Michael Jeffries and two others of coercing them into sex acts during Mr. Jeffries’s tenure at the company.

Danielle Kaye
By Danielle Kaye

Oct. 22, 2024
Updated 1:25 p.m. ET
Michael S. Jeffries, the former longtime chief executive of Abercrombie & Fitch, was indicted on Tuesday on charges of running an international sex-trafficking scheme during several years of his tenure at the company, federal prosecutors said.

Prosecutors in Brooklyn accused Mr. Jeffries, who ran the clothing retailer from 1992 to 2014, of using force, fraud and coercion to lure dozens of men to events around the world, where they were sexually exploited by Mr. Jeffries and his romantic partner. The indictment, which includes accusations from 15 people who said they had been coerced into sex acts, echoes allegations first unearthed last year by a BBC investigation and a class-action lawsuit accusing Mr. Jeffries of using the prospect of modeling jobs at Abercrombie to exploit and abuse them.

Mr. Jeffries and his partner, Matthew Smith, were arrested in Florida on Tuesday morning and are expected to appear in federal court in West Palm Beach later in the day, said John Marzulli, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York. A third person, James Jacobson, was also arrested on Tuesday, in Wisconsin, in connection with the case and will appear in federal court in St. Paul, Minn., Mr. Marzulli said.

From 2008 to 2015, Mr. Jeffries and Mr. Smith employed Mr. Jacobson to act as a recruiter, according to the indictment. Mr. Jacobson paid men to engage in sex acts with him; he would then choose the ones who would travel to events in New York City, the Hamptons and elsewhere across the globe for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex, prosecutors said.

Mr. Jeffries “was using his power, his wealth and his influence to traffic men for his own sexual pleasure, and that of his romantic partner,” Breon S. Peace, the U.S. attorney for New York’s Eastern District, said at a news conference announcing the indictment.

The former executive and his co-conspirators convinced aspiring male models that attending their secretive events, which were operated by staff bound by nondisclosure agreements, could lead to modeling opportunities, according to the indictment. The men said Mr. Jeffries threatened them, warning that failure to comply with requests for certain acts during the events could harm their career prospects, prosecutors said.

The men were pressured to consume alcohol, Viagra and muscle relaxants during the events, and they were forced to engage in sex acts without their consent. They were also not able to leave the events without Mr. Jeffries’s and Mr. Smith’s approval, prosecutors said.

If convicted of the sex trafficking charges, the three defendants could face at least 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. A conviction on the interstate prostitution charges could result in a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed last year also accused Abercrombie of being complicit in the sex-trafficking scheme. The company, according to the suit, ignored Mr. Jeffries’s conduct, which included withdrawing money from corporate-affiliated accounts to pay victims. An Abercrombie spokeswoman declined to comment on Mr. Jeffries’s arrest or the lawsuit against the retailer.

Abercrombie said previously that the company was “appalled and disgusted” by the allegations against its former chief. The retailer hired an outside law firm last year to investigate the accusations.

Brian Bieber, a lawyer for Mr. Jeffries, declined to comment on the sex trafficking charges, but he said Mr. Jeffries’s legal team intended to “respond in detail to the allegations” in court “when appropriate.” Lawyers for Mr. Smith also said they would respond “in the courthouse — not the media.”

Brittany Henderson, a partner at the law firm representing plaintiffs in the class-action suit against Abercrombie and Mr. Jeffries, said the arrests were “monumental for the aspiring male models who were victimized by these individuals.”

“Their fight for justice does not end here,” Ms. Henderson said. “Our clients look forward to holding Abercrombie and Fitch liable for facilitating this terrible conduct and ensuring that this cannot happen again.”

The three defendants will be arraigned in New York by early next week, said Mr. Peace, the U.S. attorney. Prosectors are seeking detention for Mr. Smith, who is a dual citizen of the United States and the United Kingdom, and bail packages for Mr. Jeffries and Mr. Jacobson, he added.

When Mr. Jeffries resigned from his role at Abercrombie in 2014, he left the retailer — once a dominant player in the teenage clothing market — in a fragile state, marred by sluggish sales and accusations of discrimination.

Danielle Kaye is a business reporter and a 2024 David Carr Fellow, a program for journalists early in their careers.

[pubic_assistance]

I mean...I sorta think it was all worth it.

😉

Those Abercrombie models were the hottest things around.

If you're going to commit a sex crime ..then at least go for the gold !

(Yes. I'm kidding)...but I do understand how someone in that position could be tempted to lose their moral compass..given the opportunity

[+ augustus]

This has been going on in Hollywood and the rich and famous and even the general public. QUID PRO QUO and now the so called "victim(s)" come forward with years or decades delay. I'm sorry but the "victim(s)" knew what time it was. They participated as well. I'm sure there was some abuse, but you can't always believe what you read.  This is getting out of control.

[+ augustus]

The definition of victim changed when I wasn't looking. It now means that you chose to do something but you're not responsible.  

[+ augustus]

The issue here is not

whether we broke a few rules or...                   

took a few liberties

with our male models.                   

We did. (winks)

[+ augustus]

Bring back the Statute of Limitations.  This is getting ludicrous.  A money grab.  

[Luv2play]

1 hour ago, augustus said:

This has been going on in Hollywood and the rich and famous and even the general public. QUID PRO QUO and now the so called "victim(s)" come forward with years or decades delay. I'm sorry but the "victim(s)" knew what time it was. They participated as well. I'm sure there was some abuse, but you can't always believe what you read.  This is getting out of control.

You’re right about Hollywood and the practice of the casting couch going back ages. In fact it started around the time big money started flowing into Tinseltown and starlets started auditioning for parts in movies. 
Some of those starlets went on to become big stars working in the studios whose bosses had coerced them to have sex. 
Nothing much has changed except the types of players involved today. As media expanded the role models to both sexes and different types of fame based on looks, the practice widened to include these people. 
Who was it who said, sex sells? 

[TonyDown]

I recommend reading Ronan Farrow's Catch and Kill, listen to the podcast or watch the same HBO series.   That book really pissed me off how the manipulation happens and the guilty have gotten away with it.

Also there are male models on YouTube that discuss how they are treated poorly by the modeling industry and paid little.   One guy I follow has admitted how he was raped.

The charges sound damning how victims were  cooerced by Jeffries.   One can expect the legal defense will crucify the victims.   They need to be brave.   Acting and modeling are businesses.  There should be no room for submitting to sex trafficking pigs.  

 

 

Edited October 22, 2024 by TonyDown

[maninsoma]

8 hours ago, marylander1940 said:

Do you think they can freely say "thanks but no thanks"? He was the CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch. Modeling is a competitive profession; they went through castings hoping to get a job that could transform their career.

Predators like Cosby and him know how to lure people and strike when they least expect it. 

I'm not surprised about some of the reactions on here. Just like in the thread about the Playboy mansion many will unfortunately say "they had it coming", "they deserved to be raped after posing naked", etc. 

Let's hope no one says models are stupid but I think it's coming. 

Quite a difference between saying "they had it coming" and "they had no choice."  I don't think anyone "has it coming."  It is possible to say no, though, unless you are truly being coerced or forced.  I've watched some videos of some not very successful male models (they got some work but never broke through to work for a major fashion house) who spoke about photographers who tried to get hands-y with them and how they had to set firm boundaries despite knowing that it could potentially negatively impact their career.

[marylander1940]

1 minute ago, maninsoma said:

Quite a difference between saying "they had it coming" and "they had no choice."  I don't think anyone "has it coming."  It is possible to say no, though, unless you are truly being coerced or forced.  I've watched some videos of some not very successful male models (they got some work but never broke through to work for a major fashion house) who spoke about photographers who tried to get hands-y with them and how they had to set firm boundaries despite knowing that it could potentially negatively impact their career.

Maybe you should read more about this. Models were given  muscle relaxants,  drinks and Viagra. That sounds like rape to me

 

[TorontoDrew]

2 minutes ago, marylander1940 said:

Maybe you should read more about this. Models were given  muscle relaxants,  drinks and Viagra. That sounds like rape to me

 

While I agree, the article I read said muscle relaxants, known as poppers.  I don't count poppers as being drugged.

[maninsoma]

3 minutes ago, marylander1940 said:

Maybe you should read more about this. Models were given  muscle relaxants,  drinks and Viagra. That sounds like rape to me

 

I was not referring to the models in Jeffries' case specifically, just that sometimes a model/actor does have the ability to say "no" and leave (they aren't being forced or threatened and they haven't had their judgment impaired with some sort of substance) and if they choose to go along with sexual activity because they believe it will help their career that is quite a different thing than rape.

[pubic_assistance]

36 minutes ago, maninsoma said:

if they choose to go along with sexual activity because they believe it will help their career that is quite a different thing than rape.

[marylander1940]

1 hour ago, TorontoDrew said:

While I agree, the article I read said muscle relaxants, known as poppers.  I don't count poppers as being drugged.

In the TV the indictment was read and it said, "muscle relaxant".

[BrklynNYC]

20 minutes ago, pubic_assistance said:

But that's where the line gets blurry.  Choosing vs acquiescing. When there is inequality of power, that's called sexual harassment and coercion. I'm not saying everyone is a victim, because certainly some people use sex as a tool, as well, to get ahead. 

[pubic_assistance]

3 minutes ago, MmM said:

When there is inequality of power, that's called sexual harassment and coercion

So....offering someone cash to someone who is in a position inferior to your own, in exchange for having sex with you is now "rape" ?  Y'all are in a LOT of trouble. 😉

[Ali Gator]

Barrett Pall, now 36, has commented about the news on Instagram today...

BARRETT PALL (@barrettpall) • Instagram photos and videos

WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM

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36K likes, 1,065 comments - barrettpall on October 22, 2024: "A year later. Overwhelmed and processing. Thank you to everyone who believed me & thank...