James Corden lampoons Terry Richardson at CDFA fashion awards show over allegations of sexual misconduct

No-one in the fashion world was safe during the Late Late Show host’s speech

James Corden (Getty)

The controversial photographer Terry Richardson found himself lampooned and then defended after James Corden took aim at him while presenting the CDFA fashion awards.

The Late Late Show host took no prisoners as he opened the awards in front of the fashion elite and Richardson was the first figure to be name-checked during his monologue.

Richardson has been accused of inappropriate sexual conduct and harassment by a number of women during photo-shoots, claims he has strenuously denied. The 49-year-old has never faced criminal charges.

“Me hosting a fashion awards [show] is ridiculous,” Corden told the audience. “Me being here has disaster written all over it. Asking me to host the CFDAs is like asking Terry Richardson to host your daughter's birthday party.”

Richardson has shot Kate Moss, Miley Cyrus, Chloe Sevigny, Beyonce and a host of other famous models, singers and artists, as well as directing music videos. Many of his subjects have been photographed nude or partially nude and he has published explicit pictures of sex acts, sometimes involving himself, in his exhibitions and collections.

Later, Pharrell Williams used his protracted acceptance speech for the Fashion Icon Award to defend Richardson as a “genius”, telling the audience: “Around the time, Tom Ford, famous guy, was still at Gucci, I bought a caramel-colored leather biker jacket because it reminded me of Star Wars … I wore that jacket for N*E*R*D’s first album packaging shoot, shot by the barely known at the time but talented Terry Richardson. With my clothes on. He’s genius, I’m sorry.”

Corden, who moved from the UK to Los Angeles to front The Late Late Show earlier this year, also took a minute to congratulate Kris Jenner on the impending arrival of her “newest cast member” after Kim Kardashian announced the news of her second pregnancy.