Anand Jon: From Fashion ‘IT BOY’ celebrity designer to prison partners in punishment with the Menendez brothers
Manage episode 407331803 series 3559479
At 16 years old, Anand Jon was on the path to greatness in the world of fashion. He had the love and support of his family, and he was on his way to America to follow his dreams as a fashion student. He quickly became a fashion industry favorite, being tutored by Tim Gunn and working with the legendary Donna Karan. He was a force to be reckoned with in the fickle world of fashion.
In 1999 he became the first Indian designer to launch his own collection at New York Fashion Week. He was quickly becoming a celebrity himself as a designer who worked with a lot of celebrity ‘IT GIRLS’ in the 90s - Paris Hilton, Lydia Hearst, Nikki Hilton, Michelle Rodriguez, Ivanka and Marla Trump. He also designed for music royalty Mary J Blige and Janet Jackson. However, that was all about to change when he was charged with 49 counts of sexual offense in both New York and LA. On November 26, 2008, after many delays, denials, and demonstration, he was convicted and sentenced to an extremely lengthy prison term which is still being contested and protested by his family.
The story does not end there. On May 29, while serving his time in prison, he was brutally beaten and stabbed in the face, suffering from five facial fractures. After a brief recovery time he was transferred to the ‘sensitive needs’ area in prison where the infamous murderous duo the Menendez brothers were serving their sentences and needless to say the three have become friends. Or, I guess we could say partners in crime.
True Crime, Fashion, and Passion is recorded and edited at DNR Studios in New York, NY. The podcast is hosted by Phillip Bloch, cohosted by Carol Alt and Pat Cleveland. Our Senior Producer is Annie Quaile. Illustrations created by Antonio Contreras. Follow him at @antonioeldeseo on Instagram.
Special thanks to Paul van Ravenstein, Romaine Patterson, Andrew Bagley, and the entire DNR Studios crew. Additional thanks to Vinnie Postestivo. Visit us on the web at truecrimefashionandpassion.com, on Twitter @crimefashionpod and Instagram and Facebook at @TrueCrimeFashionandPassion.
21 episodes