Content Warning: The following article contains discussion of sexual assault.
An Australian music photographer has admitted to the allegations levelled against him by a multitude of women, after Jaguar Jonze posted a statement of support for victims over the weekend.
On July 11, Jaguar Jonze – real name Deena Lynch – posted a series of hand-written sticky notes to social media, in which she said she had “been hearing so many stories about a particular male photographer who works in the industry”. She also offered support for victims of sexual abuse and harassment in the music industry, encouraging them to reach out to her for “a safe space”.
Lynch posted another series of notes on Instagram yesterday (July 13), noting that the total number of women who came forward with stories about the photographer totalled 59. She also added that she could not “name and shame” the photographer due to Australia’s strict defamation laws.
In a statement yesterday, photographer Jack Stafford, who until recently operated under the handle @re._stacks, issued a lengthy statement on Medium in response to Lynch’s posts.
“When the stories first started coming I wanted to dismiss so many of them due to the context they were being portrayed in,” Stafford wrote.
“I accept that my whole makeup was inappropriate, that my personality was not okay, that even the little things matter, every off joke or statement or moment, every photo, everything, wrong.”
Stafford said he intended to permanently quit his job as a photographer, and “will not return to the photography world ever”.
“I have dissapointed [sic] many people in the music industry and for that I am sorry, I will never try re enter that space,” he wrote.
“While I’m sure with some shifty manipulative bullshit lawyer I could claim defamation in some of these instances, I absolutely will not go down that path if I don’t have to. I want people to know that. I created my work under re._stacks and the reason why I did that is because I was once before called out for behaviour that was not okay, I told myself they were just sensitive and that I’ll be right and that my ways aren’t that bad and made a slight change that did nothing. I was absolutely wrong. I am an abuser.”
Stafford has since removed himself from all social media accounts.
Lynch told the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday that the tally was “70 women affected by the same man [and] 88 other horrific stories”. The Herald also reported that Stafford recently photographed more than 120 artists, including Kate Miller-Heidke, Odette and Ali Barter for a coronavirus isolation series.
Some Australian artists, including Miller-Heidke, took to social media to applaud the victims’ bravery in coming forward.
Thanks to @JaguarJonze and other victims for coming forward and speaking up about this. https://t.co/o3SsgC8l17
— Kate Miller-Heidke (@kmillerheidke) July 14, 2020
I’m so sorry to the many womxn who have stories like these. It needs to stop. So much love to those brave enough to speak up, you’re saving countless people from having these experiences in the future. I stand with you 🙏 https://t.co/caXwXE0mFz
— CUB SPORT (@cubsportmusic) July 12, 2020
So happy change is happening. Deena and I were so scared to speak about our experiences with those producers, and 62 of us were scared to speak about the photographer, until now. Thank you @JaguarJonze and to the industry for empowering every woman affected ❤️ https://t.co/nfqjinrZjp
— HARTLEY (@imhartley) July 13, 2020
times fucking up https://t.co/A3mUCxIBZa
— CXLOE (@iamcxloe) July 13, 2020