Wright seeks damages for Harvey Nichols ads

Arsenal footballer Ian Wright is demanding damages from Harari Page and Harvey Nichols for an ad featuring his naked body.

The March edition of Esquire magazine carries a one-off ad showing pictures of Wright and supermodel Naomi Campbell. It consists of two three-page spreads of the two lying in identical poses. The catchline, which is a play on the Arsenal team line-up, reads: “Campbell and Wright. Both get their kit off Harvey Nichols”.

Although Wright did pose naked for some of the photographs, he is understood to be distressed by the ads. Wright is said to have thought shots taken of him wearing underwear would be used instead.

Harari Page says that by showing Wright a photograph of Campbell naked and saying he was to copy the pose it was made evident the ads would show him unclothed. “Nobody exactly held him down while the photographs were being taken,” managing director Sammy Harari says. Wright is understood to have received £1,000 for the ad.