Supermodel Emily Ratajkowski Accuses Photographer Jonathan Leder Of Sexual Assaulting Her In 2012

Supermodel Emily Ratajkowski has come out with details regarding a 2012 incident on the set of a nude photoshoot. In an article for New York magazine, Ratajowski alleges that her photographer Jonathan Leder forced himself on her while she was intoxicated. Leder told the magazine that he denies her allegations.

The article, titled “Buying Myself Back When Does A Model Own Her Own Image,” was part of a greater essay collection that the model has been writing and plans on publishing. Ratajkowski announced her story on her personal Instagram with a caption that read, “I’ve been working on a collection of essays for the past year and couldn’t be more thrilled that @nymag has published” ‘Buying Myself Back.’ This is an extremely personal piece about image, power and consent. Thank you to the entire New York magazine team for this opportunity and all of their support. Link in my bio.”

The article details an event that allegedly took place in 2012 during a photoshoot for Darius magazine located at Leder’s home. Ratajkowski describes her previous agent convincing her to allow Leder to take photographs of her while in lingerie and nude, with only a makeup artist in attendance. Once the artist had left, Ratajowski reports that Leder gave her wine, asked her about her boyfriends and that, while she had become intoxicated, the photographer proceeded to painfully penetrated her,” the passage in the article reads,” “I don’t remember kissing, but I do remember his fingers suddenly being inside of me. Harder and harder and pushing and pushing like no one had touched me before or has touched me since. I could feel the shape of myself and my ridges, and it really, really hurt.” Leder allegedly left the terrified model to sleep in one of his rooms.

The model interacted with Leder again when he released Polaroid images taken during that 2012 photoshoot in a book of his titled Emily Ratajkowski, the images are also set to be released in a show later at New York’s Castor Gallery.

Ratajowski attempted to pursue legal action. Nancy Wolff, an attorney who represents Leder, responded by calling her threats “hollow” and asserted Leder’s right to publish the photographs.

Ratajkowski reasserted her outrage on a series of tweets that same year that read, “I’ve been resisting speaking publicly on the recently released photos by Jonathan Leder to avoid giving him publicity. But I’ve had enough” and “These photos being used w/out my permission is an example of exactly the opposite of what I stand for.”

Leder has denied all claims that Ratajkowski has made against him over the years, which he called “too tawdry and childish to respond to.” The photographer told New York, “You do know who we are talking about right? This is the girl that was naked in Treats! Magazine, and bounced around naked in the Robin Thicke video at that time. You really want someone to believe she was a victim.”