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Prada Casting Director Accused of Bribes

prada campaign.jpgWe were going to call this post, “The Devil Scares Prada,” but instead we’ll get right to the point:


There’s a swirl of agents and casting directors buzzing about a very dire rumor. Some have accused Prada’s longtime casting director, Russell Marsh, of accepting bribes from IMG and Women to put their girls front and center in Prada and Miu Miu’s casting. According to the rumor, Miuccia’s team had no knowledge of the bribes, and according to Style.com, the evidence that IMG and Women girls are usually on Prada’s opening and closing moments (and of course their Sasha Pivovarova campaigns) is quite solid. Although we’ve always believed that those two agencies, collectively, have the best stash of girls anyway. It’s also true that Meghan Sutherland had a Prada moment last year, but you may have noticed she was missing this season from the runways…

Furthermore, there’s an email going around, purportedly from Russell Marsh to his contacts, saying he needs to “go away for a while.” But we remember when the faux Olivia Palermo email got out last year, so we know how easy it is to forge an email address.

So why is this rumor going around and around?

Either it’s true, or a very vicious agency feels violated because their best girls got nixed from the Prada runway or campaign, and they decided to take matters into their own hands.

Also:

We get emails every day from people asking how to get into the fashion business. This is probably a good example of why you may not want to try.

And of course, if you know anything about this, email tips@fashionista.com and fill in the blanks.

Comments

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posted by tysbii

Mar 28, 2008 5:23PM

Yeah well heres another reason not to get into the indusrty, evil casting directors who promise you the world, break your heart and leave you as YOUNG and poor as they found you.

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posted by tysbii

Mar 28, 2008 5:49PM

Nobody cares about what happens behind closed doors, and it's sad that people in positions of power abuse that power.

Russell you should have been nicer and not bitch slapped on so many people on the way up.

The truth always gets out anyway, even when you try to hide your dirty little secrets.

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posted by guest

Mar 28, 2008 9:48PM

Wouldn't be surprised. Now I know why Russell would put every model on option for Prada to keep everyone at bay. I remember the only time getting booked with him is when I was with IMG. Of course it wasn't Prada/Miu Miu though.

Yes they do leave you as poor as they found you except your not as young anymore.

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posted by guest

Mar 29, 2008 12:02AM

Ooh, that "fake Olivia Palermo" e-mail
Not fake! at. all.

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posted by guest

Mar 29, 2008 1:57AM

does this mean we can stop seeing pale, caucasian boys dominate the walkways and start seeing some interesting WOMEN in those clothes? probably not.

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posted by guest

Mar 29, 2008 2:12AM

Until IMG and Women repudiate and denounce these claims, I'm going to consider this all truth!

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posted by guest

Mar 29, 2008 6:13AM

I agree with tysbii. Wether he did or he didn't this guy must have some seriously bad karma issues. You reap what you sow..

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posted by guest

Mar 29, 2008 11:20PM

who is meghan sutherland?

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posted by guest

Mar 30, 2008 2:14PM

Now it all makes sense. All the top agencies have at least a few good girls, I've been wondering why IMG and Women/Supreme seem to get so many of their girls, especially the plain, fugly ones, into so many shows. Guess these two agencies aren't as good at promoting their girls as we thought: Anyone can promote a girl if he's going to pay someone to use her. If Russell was doing it for Prada, do you think he wasn't doing it for other shows he cast?
Please, let's have some real models now, not these awful emaciated pale stringbeans.

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posted by guest

Mar 30, 2008 5:28PM

Oh well, bullshit happens everywhere, in every industry, and every profession. Remember Enron!

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posted by guest

Mar 31, 2008 7:58PM

Didn't Marc Jacob's people bribed a state official to guarantee access to the 69th Armory for his runway shows recently?

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