One thing Terry Richardson does better than take photographs is garner controversy.
But until now, the photographer, 48, hasn’t directly addressed allegations of sexual misconduct — aside from a letter, exclusively obtained by Page Six, that slammed the “emotionally-charged witch hunt” — which is why New York magazine’s seemingly endless cover profile was so eagerly anticipated.
Those looking for answers from Richardson might be disappointed by the piece, which, while not shying away from portraying the more lurid parts of his persona, spends most of its 7,000-plus words discussing Richardson’s dysfunctional childhood.
Despite this, he does briefly touch on the allegations.
“I don’t have any regrets about the work at all,” he told the magazine, “but obviously I don’t ever want someone to feel like that. It was never my intention. But also, people do things, and then they have regrets, and that’s also nothing to do with me. Then don’t do pictures like that again … I’m okay with myself about everything, and that to me is the most important thing.”
Richardson also explicitly addressed Emma Appleton’s debunked accusation that he tried to offer her a Vogue shoot in exchange for sex.
“‘I’ll put you in Vogue,’ ” he said. “So corny. Ridiculous. Who talks like that? When people call me a pedophile and f—g bulls—t, that’s a horrible thing to say about someone.”
A long read, but one that’s unlikely to change anyone’s mind on Richardson one way or the other.