Tatjana Patitz: 90s supermodel who appeared in George Michael’s Freedom video dies aged 56
Model Tatjana Patitz, who rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s and starred in George Michael’s Freedom music video, has died aged 56.
Patitz’s New York modelling agency confirmed on Wednesday that she had died in California.
Her agent Corinne Nicolas said the cause of death was illness but did not give further details.
Born in Hamburg, Germany, Patitz rose to prominence as a high-fashion model in the 1980s and 1990s.
She was part of an elite handful of “original supermodels” and starred in the music video for Michael’s 1990s hit Freedom! ’90, alongside fellow models Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista and Naomi Campbell.
She also featured in several other music videos, including the video for Duran Duran’s Skin Trade and Nick Kamen’s music video for Tell Me.
Crawford, who appeared in Michael’s video alongside Patitz, posted a picture of the two of them on Instagram, writing that she was “so sad” to hear of the passing of her friend.
“We were babies together in the fashion industry and I feel like we grew up together,” she wrote.
“I found her soft-spoken, sensitive, kind, inquisitive and, who could ever forget those piercing eyes. Her love of animals and nature was infectious. Sending my condolences to her family – especially the son she adored. RIP.”
Chief operating officer of Conde Nast and global editorial director of Vogue, Anna Wintour, has remembered Patitz as the “European symbol of chic, like Romy Schneider-meets-Monica Vitti”.
She told Vogue.com Patitz was “far less visible than her peers, more mysterious, more grown-up, more unattainable, and that had its own appeal”.
In a 2006 interview, Patitz claimed that the golden age of supermodels was over.
“There was a real era, and the reason that happened was because glamour was brought into it,” she was quoted as saying in Prestige Hong Kong magazine.
“Now the celebrities and actresses have taken over, and the models are in the backseat completely.”
Peter Lindbergh’s ‘White Shirts – Class of 88’ featuring Tatjana Patitz (second from right). Pic: AP
She also noted that models from her era had healthier physiques.
“Women were healthy, not these scrawny little models that nobody knows their names anymore,” Patitz said.
As part of the 30-year long “we’d rather go naked than wear fur” campaign, run by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Foundation, Patitz posed nude alongside Emma Wiklund, Heather Stewart-Whyte, Fabienne Terwinghe and Naomi Campbell in 1994.
Tweeting the campaign image of the supermodels, the charity wrote that it will remember her as an “international icon” and “compassionate advocate” for the ethical treatment of animals.
During her career, she worked with a number of high-profile fashion photographers including Peter Lindbergh, whose 1990 British Vogue cover included the biggest models at the time, including Patitz.
Following the news of her death, the Peter Lindbergh Foundation paid tribute to the model on its official Twitter account, describing her as a “a long-time friend of Peter’s”.
Tatjana Patitz at Berlin Fashion Week in 2015. Pic: AP
“We would like to salute Tatjana’s kindness, inner beauty and outstanding intelligence,” the statement read.
“Our thoughts go to her loved ones and particularly Jonah.
“She will be immensely missed.”
Patitz is survived by her 19-year-old son Jonah Patitz.
Entertainment
Snoop Dogg becomes co-owner and investor of Swansea football club saying it’s ‘an underdog just like me’
Police are taking no further action over Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury.
Officers said they had investigated “comments about a forthcoming court case made during Kneecap’s performance” at the festival on 28 June.
However, after Crown Prosecution Service advice, they decided there is not enough evidence “to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence”.
The Avon & Somerset force started investigating the Irish group’s show last month, as well as comments by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan.
It said they were looking at a possible public order incident.
Police said on Friday that the investigation into Bob Vylan’s performance was ongoing.
The London duo were widely criticised – and caused a BBC crisis – after leading on-stage chants of “death to the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces).
Kneecap’s Liam Og O Hannaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June. Pic: PA
Kneecap posted a photograph on Instagram, which the group said was an email from police announcing the case was being dropped.
They said their packed Glastonbury gig was a “celebration of love and solidarity” and reporting used “wildly misleading headlines”.
Fears over what Kneecap might do or say during the performance had prompted the BBC not to show it live.
The group said: “Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close… yet the police saw fit to publicly announce they were opening an investigation.”
“There is no public apology, they don’t send this to media or post it on police accounts,” they added.
The police statement on Friday said they had informed Kneecap of their decision to drop the case.
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One of the group’s members appeared in court in June charged with a terror offence.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a gig last year.
He was released on unconditional bail ahead of a second court appearance in August.
Entertainment
Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin
A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.
Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.
Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.
The fire gutted the main stage
Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.
It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.
Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky
The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.
The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.
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Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.
“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’
Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.
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