American pop star Sky Ferreira has come out in defence of Terry Richardson after a video the controversial photographer shot for Lady Gaga leaked online last week.
Richardson has faced numerous accusations of using his position of power to elicit sexual favours over the years. Ferreira, who has worked with Richardson on and off since she was 17, says that she has never had any problems with the photographer or the way he worked.
“I have never been forced or manipulated into anything. I made a music video with him and I have never felt uncomfortable with Terry & had 99 percent of the creative control,” Ferreira said. “This was before I was ‘famous’. Allegations are one thing but completely blaming the director isn’t fair aka the Lady Gaga video.”
Lady Gaga’s management scrapped a music video which Richardson had directed for the pop star’s song Do What U Want earlier this year, which one commentator called “an ad for rape”.
Ferreira goes on to say that she isn’t doubting the claims of fellow models, but that the media have painted the Lady Gaga music video situation in a negative light.
“I’m not against/doubting people that have said they’ve encountered things with him (it’s not my place to say so),” Ferreira said. “But the media acting as if Terry Richardson manipulated Lady Gaga into making a video about getting touched by R-Kelly or whatever is a whole other thing. She is 28 year old woman & fully capable/aware of what she was doing. If she wants to do it is HER choice.”
“I’m REALLY insulted that my work is somehow getting dragged into this mess (this is the only place I can actually write about this),” Ferreira added.
After posting her statement to her Facebook page, Ferreira clarified her words and provided a link to The Rape Foundation, a care organisation for rape victims. “I am ONLY speaking from my own personal experience,” Ferreira said. “When people accuse of me sleeping with someone or being manipulated etc. I have EVERY right to talk about it.”
Sky Ferreira will perform at Splendour In The Grass in late July. Read her full Facebook post in defence of Terry Richardson, below.
Watch: Sky Ferreira – I Blame Myself
Sky Ferreira’s full Facebook Post
