A former titan of the fashion industry – who was once wed to Linda Evangelista – for years ran a sordid sex ring from within his multinational modelling agency, it is claimed – where he allegedly raped more than a dozen models as young as 14.
French modelling agent Gerald Marie allegedly engaged in the misconduct while serving as European chief of Elite Model Management in the 80s and 90s – a tenure that saw him become one of the most powerful men in the industry.
During that time, Marie allegedly raped at least 13 Elite models – reportedly targeting younger women because he though that ‘virgins were not photogenic,’ a former staffer said.
Marie, now 72, also kept tabs on the models he and others had slept with, the whistleblower said, grading them on a points-based system, according to their ages and whether or not they were virgins.
He denies all allegations made against him.
Accusers also say the Frenchman would ply his victims with a daily stipend of cocaine to keep them thin while engaging in the abuse – with one alleged victim saying she was ‘prescribed’ a vial of the drug a day to keep her weight down.
The accuser, 53-year-old American model Carré Sutton, says she was repeatedly raped after being recruited by the model boss in 1985, when she was 16.
Hellbound and Down 