Kate Upton joins list of #MeToo victims

On Jan. 31, former Sports Illustrated model Kate Upton took to Twitter to join the #MeToo movement.

The #MeToo movement started in October 2017. The hashtag spread through multiple social media outlets to bring attention and shed light on sexual harassment. Paul Marciano is the creative director for the brand Guess. Upton was the face of Guess from 2010-11. Upton stated that her first day shooting Marciano tried to grab her breasts. However, Marciano denied the claims while releasing a statement to Time magazine, saying “I have never been alone with Kate Upton.”

Multiple women have claimed they have been sexually harassed by men in the business industry claiming they use their power to prey on women. Upton was offered to be the face of Guess Jeans in 2014, but couldn’t accept the offer due to her experience with Marciano in 2010.

Yu Tsai, the photographer who was present during Upton’s first photo shoot with Guess confirmed Upton’s claims to Time magazine. Tsai released a statement saying “extremely moved by the strength and courage that it has taken Upton to tell her story and for the countless brave women and men who have already come forward.”

Upton, like many other women have come forward to share their stories against CEOs, executive producers and other men in high positions in business.

Guess declined to comment on Upton’s allegations in an interview with Time magazine. Upton blames her experience with Marciano on her lack of confidence in the modeling industry and said she contemplated quitting. Upton said she hopes coming forward will inform other people on the appropriate behavior in and out of the workplace with one another.