reactions-V1

The Actions of One
Affects So Many
Reactions from the UR IT Staff
“
What
is worth
all of this?”
These days, it is known that
a gunman, a robber, or any
other criminal can strike
anywhere and for any reason. Not
long ago, that experience became all
too real for UR IT Magazine owner
and photographer Jeremy Clark.
On June 13, the boyfriend of one
of the magazine’s (former) models
entered Jeremy’s home early in the
morning and threatened
him with a gun to turn
over all photos and other
magazine information.
There went Jeremy’s hard
work, the models’ time and
effort, the writers’ articles,
the graphic designer’s
creativity—everything—
on computers, cameras,
hard drives. All because of
one model and one photo.
Upon hearing the news,
the models and others
were shocked and have
since spoken out and
shared their feelings.
Immediately, the
majority of the models
expressed their hopes
that Jeremy was okay and offered
prayers.
As soon as the news was shared
with models, they responded:
“People overreact over such petty
things; it’s very sad.” “They will
get what they deserve.” “I really
don’t understand some people.”
“Some people are just down-right
cold-hearted.” And one, upon
expressing her anger, questioned,
“What is worth all of this?”
That is one question no one can
answer but the actor himself and
he will likely never provide a public
answer. Maybe he will feel guilt, or
no guilt and, maybe it was all worth
it to him over one photo. Maybe
not…or maybe it won’t be once the
legalities are straightened out. But
no matter what that answer may
be, the incident happened and the
models and UR IT staff are the ones
losing out.
The mother of two UR IT models
said that she is enraged over
the incident, though no one was
physically harmed.
“The thought of some random
person stealing the photos of my
girls as well as many girls I’ve
come to meet through UR IT has
me very angry and upset,” she said.
“I’m concerned as to what he may
do with the photos—where they
may end up.”
This woman said if she could, she
would love to tell the actor
“he had no right to take the
work from the girls.”
“A lot goes into the shoots
and photos from all involved
and it was completely
unnecessary for him to ruin
all the hard work, simply
because he did not like
what his own girlfriend
did,” she shared. “And to his
girlfriend, I’d like to tell her
she’s ridiculous for putting
others in danger for her
poor choice in boys.”
Some models and staff
members were not sure
the threat was real and
questioned if Jeremy was
joking, because they recognize his
friendly and humorous personality.
“I was really hoping he was joking,”
said one model/staff member. Soon,
she realized someone had really
threatened Jeremy’s life and stole
all UR IT materials.
“My mind raced,” she said. “My
heart was racing. I was angry and
worried; who could have done such
a thing? Is Jer‘ okay?”
She, like many others, awaited a
call or news that everything was
okay. Relief was felt as soon as
Jeremy was able to explain what
had happened and say that he was
all right—physically.
“I was relieved,” the model/staff
member stated. “But when I found
out who it was and what happened,
I didn’t know what to say. I was so
angry, hurt and disappointed. Why
did they have to do this? Everything
we have all worked hard for and it
was gone in 10 minutes.”
Frustration is another emotion
ranking close with anger in the
situation. Fright is another: The
actor could possibly have personal
information and photos of nearly
all of the models.
“This guy and girl who have our
information really need help and/
or to possibly reevaluate their
relationship. There is no reason
for any of us to be going through
this,” another model said. “This is
supposed to be fun, not putting
anyone in harm’s way.”
“I have been waiting a few months
to get my pictures, I’ve attended
various shoots, put a lot of time
and effort into these shoots, and
now everything is gone. Sadly, I
may not ever see my pictures that
I have been patiently waiting for,”
22
THE ACTIONS OF ONE AFFECTS SO MANY
THE ACTIONS OF ONE AFFECTS SO MANY
23

another model summarized, sharing
the thoughts of nearly all who gave
reactions. “Everybody within UR
IT is busy enough let alone giving
up more time to pick up whatever
pieces that are left. It also upsets
me to know that a stranger has
pictures of me and information
regarding me and I do not know
what he is doing with them.”
The models agreed that not only did
the actor(s) hurt Jeremy—a great
person who would do anything for
anyone…a fun and caring person—
but, “They hurt the entire UR IT
community.”
“I am devastated that they not
only stole our images that we
put so much time into, but most
importantly that they have robbed
someone of their peace of mind,”
noted one model who has done
many shoots with UR IT.
Everyone working with the
magazine seems to agree that taking
such measures over one photo
is unreal. They said that simply
asking to have the photo removed
from social media, deleted, and not
published would have had greater
results and far fewer ramifications
(probably none at all).
“[The model] knows her comfort
level and if she was okay with
whatever the pictures were, then
this guy needs to accept that
and who she is. We all have our
boundaries and I know Jeremy
is not going to make any of
us cross those boundaries,” a
model said.
“I can’t fathom threatening
someone’s life over photos that
you asked to have done,” agreed
a second staff member/model,
who noted she was shocked and
livid upon hearing the news. “It
doesn’t make much sense.”
“I can’t fathom why the couple felt
they needed to take such action
against Jeremy, knowing that he
is a reasonable, understanding
person,” agreed a model who
recently spent long days in photo
shoots in South Carolina, with
nothing to now show for that
time. “I have used this incident
to remind myself how important
it is to remember safety in this
business. UR IT has pride in taking
on confident, professional models,
and unfortunately there are bad
apples that have slipped through.
I believe this is our opportunity
to change our safety policies with
conducting interviews with the
new models coming in.”
Some models said they have
several unanswered questions,
and some are concerned with
how having their work stolen
and possibly gone forever will
affect their goals and efforts
towards other modeling gigs or
acting auditions.
“I want to go for acting by the
way. All this…I feel like this
man took right from under
my nose. It’s a small scratch
on my dreams, but I hope it
doesn’t affect me too much,”
said one of UR IT’s newer
models who is working to
gain experience.
The legalities in the case
are not yet set straight and there
is likely a long road to go. It is
unknown at this time if any items
can be recovered, but there are
hopes jail time is in the future of
the actor and his girlfriend in the
incident.
“A person who laughs at the
possibility of someone losing their
life deserves to be in jail,” the first
model/staff member shared. “Jeremy
didn’t deserve any of this.”
“I guess my thoughts are that there
will always be ugly people like this
is the world we live in but we can’t
let them take our smile away,”
a model said. “We need to keep
pushing forward and not let them
win.”
There is also hope that Jeremy
won’t “lose his spunk” or let
the threat affect his passion for
photography and drive to continue
UR IT Magazine. So far, everything
is moving forward and there is no
sight of giving up.
“I don’t think they knew the extent
of their actions,” said the second
staff member/model. “We’ve lost
so much irreplaceable work. All
we can do is try to keep working
forward and wait for justice to be
served.”
Arictle by: Adeena Harbst
24
THE ACTIONS OF ONE AFFECTS SO MANY
THE ACTIONS OF ONE AFFECTS SO MANY
25