Italian fashion designer Riccardo Tisci reportedly accused of s*xual assault: Lawsuit explained

Riccardo Tisci, a fashion designer from Italy, faced a s*xual assault lawsuit recently. The suit was filed in the New York Supreme Court on April 29, 2025. According to the plaintiff, Patrick Cooper, after meeting Tisci at a restaurant and lounge in East Harlem on June 29, 2024, the designer allegedly spiked his drink.

Cooper claimed that after consuming the drink, he became disoriented. Riccardo Tisci then took Cooper to his home and allegedly assaulted him. The legal documents mention:

“As a result of the drug(s) given to Plaintiff by Defendant, Plaintiff was unable to reject, fight, stop, or defend himself from Defendant's predatory, s*xual, and unlawful assault and battery of Plaintiff.”

Additionally:

“As a direct and proximate result of the aforesaid acts by Defendant, Plaintiff has sustained, and will continue to sustain for an indefinite period of time, physical, psychological and emotional injuries.”

Meanwhile, a representative of Riccardo Tisci dismissed the allegations, calling them false. They said he was confident that the truth would come out and that he would clear his name through the proper legal process.

According to the court document, the plaintiff asked for compensation that goes beyond what lower courts could typically handle. He argued that the defendant meant to cause harm. Tisci also showed a lack of care for the rights and safety of the plaintiff.

Cooper also requested that the other party pay for his lawyer's fees and other legal expenses. Additionally, he asked for any other form of help that the court believes is just and suitable.

Looking back at Riccardo Tisci's work and his return to the industry after a break

The court document stated that the defendant’s actions toward the plaintiff were felonies under New York law. These actions posed a serious threat to the plaintiff’s physical and emotional well-being. They have been described as violent crimes that were motivated, at least partly, by gender-based hostility.

In an interview with the Financial Times in 2024, Riccardo Tisci was ready to return to the fashion world after a hiatus. He said:

“Creative people get into a very dark tunnel. Sometimes, everything that people see is positive and beautiful, but behind that is insecurity and darkness. I went through that, but today, I’m happy, more than ever, because I’m happy inside myself.”

Riccardo Tisci reflected on how much the fashion world had changed since he started in the early 2000s. Back then, he was new to the scene and surrounded by well-known designers.

Without platforms like Instagram, the focus was more on pure creativity. At that time, influential figures like Isabella Blow and Anna Piaggi played an important role. He felt that modern fashion had become faster and more focused on looks and marketing, often overlooking talented individuals.

Riccardo Tisci said that he was deciding on the best time to return to work. He enjoyed the freedom to select projects that brought him happiness.

Tisci worked with many celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Beyoncé, Adele, and others. In 2017, he left Givenchy after working as a creative director. The following year, he joined Burberry as chief creative officer but exited in 2022.

Also Read: Abuse and kidnapping allegations against Soulja Boy explored

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