GIRL ABOUT TOWN: Now scandal-hit photographer Mario Testino is axed from Annabel's revamp
Photographer Mario Testino, 63, pictured had been brought in to ‘guide the look’ of the new Annabel’s in London’s Mayfair, which is due to open in a matter of weeks following a £55 million renovation
The UK’s most famous nightclub – Annabel’s – has severed its ties with Mario Testino following a string of sexual harassment claims against the fashion photographer, I can reveal.
Testino, 63, had been brought in to ‘guide the look’ of the new Annabel’s in London’s Mayfair, which is due to open in a matter of weeks following a £55 million renovation.
The photographer, a favourite of the Royals, has been accused of sexual harassment by more than a dozen male models.
A statement from the club said: ‘In light of recent allegations, Annabel’s has decided it is appropriate to end our association with Mario Testino as a member of our Cultural Committee.’
Last week Gucci model Ryan Locke said Testino climbed on top of him during a photoshoot on a bed saying: ‘I’m the girl, you’re the boy.’ Another Gucci model, Jason Fedele, said models had to do a nude shoot with Testino to ‘advance your career’.
Annabel’s – membership £3,000 a year – is planning a grand opening in early March of its new premises, two doors down from its previous address. It will have a £20 million-plus Picasso portrait renamed Annabel hanging in the hall.
Down the years, the club in Berkeley Square has welcomed stars ranging from the Beatles – who were kicked out for not wearing shoes – to Princess Diana, who turned up dressed as a policewoman during Prince Andrew’s stag night.
A spokesman for Annabel’s told me: ‘He was going to be on our cultural committee when the club opened. We’ve now ended the relationship with him.’ Another member of the committee is make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury, who will design the ladies’ powder room.
Publisher Conde Nast, has also distanced itself from Testino, as has fashion brand Burberry.
Testino, who took iconic shots of Diana and the official engagement photographs of William and Kate, was accused of sexual advances by 13 male assistants and models.
Testino’s lawyers have challenged the character and credibility of his accusers.
Meaningless noise emanating from Liam Gallagher’s mouth? Who ever would have thought it!
The former Oasis frontman has been attending Korean ‘Qi energy’ chanting classes at the Jung Shim centre in Marylebone, London.
The 40-minute sessions involve ‘repeating vibrational sounds that have no translatable meaning’ but ‘declutter the mind’.
Perhaps his classes led to Liam, 45, recently ending the long-term feud with brother Noel, 50.
It's the film the whole fashion world has been waiting for, I’m sure. But I’m afraid to have to tell them that Naomi Campbell’s planned documentary about her life as a model has failed to get off the runway.
The temperamental South London star, 47, pictured below – who has lobbed her mobile phone at more than one assistant – was seen filming at a Chelsea book launch in 2016 but since then there has been no progress on the project, and I hear it has been canned.
It could be that she is too busy, having been made a contributing editor at Vogue magazine. One job too many for Naomi!
Cara Delevingne’s first novel didn’t trouble the bestseller lists and her Hollywood career isn’t taking off, so now she’s giving music a try.
One-time model Cara, 25, said: ‘I want to finish an album.’ Don’t expect her pop star ex St Vincent is too worried by the competition!
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