Photographer Marc Baptiste Accused of Sexual Assault by Former Model

Alwantha Lawson alleges Marc Baptiste assaulted her during a 2002 photoshoot, leading to a lawsuit under New York's Gender Motivated Violence Act.

Alwantha Lawson, a former model, has filed a lawsuit against fashion photographer Marc Baptiste, accusing him of sexual assault and battery during a 2002 photoshoot.
Lawson claims Baptiste forced her to masturbate for the camera before sexually assaulting her, subsequently blacklisting her from the modeling industry.
The lawsuit alleges Baptiste's actions have caused Lawson emotional and psychological distress, leading her to seek justice under New York's Gender Motivated Violence Act.
Baptiste has denied the allegations, claiming the lawsuit is baseless and that he conducted all his photo shoots in a professional manner.
Lawson's case is supported by her attorney, who highlighted the significance of the New York Adult Survivors Act in allowing victims to pursue justice years after the alleged incidents.