Andrew Quilty to take legal action against World Press Photo Foundation over allegations

A top Australian photographer has sought the legal advice from the team who is representing a senator over a “slut-shaming” case after he was uninvited to a foundation awards ceremony for “inappropriate behaviour”. But he hasn’t been told what he done.

One of Australia’s most celebrated photographers was unceremoniously uninvited from the annual World Press Photo Foundation awards ceremony in April, with the organisation claiming he has engaged in “inappropriate behaviour”.

However the Foundation has reportedly failed to tell Andrew Quilty exactly what it believed he has allegedly done and to whom.

Sunday Confidential can reveal Quilty has engaged Kennedys defamation lawyer Rebekah Giles and barrister Sue Chrysanthou, the team representing Senator Sarah Hanson-Young in the ‘slut-shaming’ case against former Liberal Democrats Senator David Leyonhjelm, in a bid to clear his name.

Andrew Quilty says he hasn’t been told of what he has allegedly done. Picture: James Croucher

“I am aware of recent media publications and statements regarding allegations of inappropriate conduct made against me,” Quilty told Sunday Confidential via his lawyer.

“I would like to be clear that I still have not been made aware of the substance of any accusations nor the identity of the accuser.

“I have reached out to several parties requesting that I be given an opportunity to respond to any allegations and to be involved in any ongoing investigations, where I am prepared to address the accusations concerning my conduct as publicly and transparently as possible.”

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Quilty confirmed that he has taken legal action against the photo organisation.

“I have and will continue to strenuously deny that I have ever engaged in any conduct that can be considered inappropriate and maintain that I have always treated people with dignity and respect,” he wrote.

“It is now apparent, that I am not being afforded procedural fairness into any ongoing investigations that concern my personal and professional reputation and I have now retained lawyers and taken the first steps towards legal action against the relevant parties.”

Close friends of the Gold Walkley Award-winning photo journalist said their mate was blindsided by the accusations and distressed by the fact he does not know who had made them.

He is an award-winning photo journalist. Picture: Adam Hollingworth

“He is completely baffled as to what he has allegedly done and who has made the complaint,” one close friend said.

When Sunday Confidential contacted the WPPF for comment, its communications contact doubled down on the allegations but failed to provide any further detail as to what they are.

“The foundation takes all allegations of inappropriate behaviour seriously, spokesman David Campbell said.

“We recognise how difficult it is for complainants to come forward. Our protocol is that when we learn from reliable sources that someone associated with us has allegedly engaged in inappropriate behaviour we take action.”

He said the foundation phoned Quilty, who is the cousin of Archibald Prize-winning artist Ben, on April 2 to tell him he was not welcome at the awards ceremony and then cancelled his flights and accommodation.

“We did not revoke the award he received this year,” he added.

“He received the award after the jury judged all entries anonymously, and the jury was not aware of his identity or his alleged misconduct when making the award.

“We do not discuss the details of any individual cases or initiate public statements about individual cases. We are, therefore, unable to provide more information on this case.”

Quilty is represented by Agence VU and has been based in Kabul, Afghanistan, since 2013.

He won the 2016 Gold Walkley, Australia’s top journalism award, for his image The Man On The Operating Table.

Agence VU said it was aware of the accusations but continues to support its client.

Originally published as Andrew Quilty to take legal action against World Press Photo Foundation over allegations