NY Congressional Candidate Defends Past BDSM Modeling Work
Chris Gallant states he is not ashamed of explicit photos taken nearly 17 years ago, telling The New York Times he was "kinky" and looked good.
Long Island Democratic congressional candidate Chris Gallant has publicly stated he is not ashamed of explicit BDSM modeling photos that surfaced during his campaign. Gallant, the Democratic nominee for New York's 1st congressional district, told The New York Times that he chose to pose for the photos almost 17 years ago because he was genuinely interested in the activities and felt he looked good.
“I mean, all my friends know I’m kinky” as hell, Gallant told the Times, adding that he makes "Christian Grey look like amateur hour," referencing the protagonist of the "50 Shades of Grey" series.
In September, The Post reported that Gallant had posed for photos for "Mr. S Leather," a San Francisco-based retailer of BDSM products, modeling items such as collars, leather straps, and bondage gear. The images were reportedly used by the company between 2011 and 2020, although they are no longer featured on the store's website. Gallant's attorney, Sara Azari, previously stated that the arrangement was for a private, consensual photo session with his then-partner and was not intended for unrestricted publication by third parties. Azari also noted that Gallant had asked for the photographs to be removed from the company's website as he considered public service.
Gallant, a Black Hawk helicopter pilot, has served in the Army National Guard since 2006. He also volunteers as a firefighter and previously worked as an air traffic controller, where he held a local union leadership position. Following the initial report, Gallant's campaign launched a social media advertisement that read, "Make Politics Sexy Again."