Controversial Avedon Biography Faces Foundation Criticism Over Accuracy Claims

A 700-page biography of photographer Richard Avedon titled 'Something Personal' has sparked controversy since its March 2018 publication. Co-authored by Avedon's longtime studio director Norma Stevens and writer Steven M. L. Aronson, the book presents itself as a hybrid of memoir, biography, and oral history. The Richard Avedon Foundation has publicly challenged the work, alleging it contains numerous inaccuracies and may be based on fictional material Avedon was developing before his death. Prior to publication, the book generated scandal with revelations about Avedon's bisexuality and alleged affairs with figures including writer James Baldwin and director Mike Nichols. Stevens claims Avedon instructed her to create an unvarnished portrait rather than a tribute, telling her 'Make me into an Avedon.' The volume collects celebrity reminiscences from Calvin Klein, Brooke Shields, Naomi Campbell, Bruce Weber, Jann Wenner, and hairstylist Oribe, among others. Avedon, who alongside Irving Penn maintained a competitive rivalry, was the most famous fashion photographer of his era yet struggled for recognition as a serious artist. He remains the only artist to receive two Metropolitan Museum of Art retrospectives during his lifetime. Published by Spiegel & Grau at $40, the book has been criticized for its reliance on gossip and trivial anecdotes despite Stevens's three-decade proximity to the photographer.