The Rise and Fall of Ian Connor

Image via Complex Original

Beginning with small, lesser known brands like Praise, Connor’s modeling career eventually landed him in lookbooks and ad campaigns. He would model for Mishka, Pyrex, a Stussy x Bape collab, and Midnight Studios’ debut collection, and even have his face featured all over a Wil Fry jersey.

Connor started to create a legitimate name for himself in 2012, recognized for his personal style and his unique look. His social following began to soar. He was working alongside Glyn Brown of l3nf, when, at 19 years old, he proclaimed himself “King of the Youth.”

Connor can be credited for making some major changes in Wiz Khalifa’s wardrobe, taking him from stoner rapper to #coolpants.

Ian modeled in Kanye’s first Fashion Week presentation, putting him in front of arguably one of the most iconic front rows at any presentation, ever.

Following the presentation of Kanye’s first collection with adidas, Connor wears Skechers to a fancy dinner with West and his squad in Paris. The unexpected co-sign from Connor came the same year the brand saw record breaking sales numbers.

In an interview with SSENSE, Connor says, “I started doing work with Kanye and shit, that’s when Ye started to really fuck with me, see what’s inside my head.” Connor began to pop up more frequently in behind-the-scenes Instagram pics, rather than remaining solely in front of the cameras.

While driving outside of London, Connor gets into a car accident. He immediately takes to social media to brag about cheating death, tweeting, “I Can Not Fucking Die I'm Ian Connor.”

Connor told Oyster Magazine that because he knew how anxious he was during Yeezy Season 1 he knew he needed a cigarette during the Yeezy Season 2 presentation. Apparently, Kanye went “crazy” “in a good way” about it.

Exponentially bigger than his previous fashion shows, Yeezy Season 3 was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City and doubled as a listening party for Kanye’s album The Life of Pablo. Connor modeled again, and was reportedly present for the recording of TLOP.

Connor claimed he was given the opportunity to bring back Pastelle, Kanye’s clothing line that was left for dead in 2008. Despite Connor’s many posts on Instagram and rampant speculative theories on social media, the status of Pastelle 2.0 is currently unknown.

Connor tries his hand at another aspect of the game, taking on managing Playboi Carti as a 22-year old friend would, in more of a brotherly way than a proper artist manager.

23-year old Malika Anderson publicly accuses Ian of raping her in a post on her personal blog , writing that she filed a police report against him. Anderson says that  without sufficient evidence, Ian will not be charged. Her story went viral.

On April 9, the day after Malika Anderson’s allegations hit the internet, Theophilus London tweets a photo of Kanye and Connor, proclaiming Connor’s innocence.

UK publication The Daily Mail interviewed six women who accused Connor of rape. The interviews started as a video series rolled out over the course of three days, but ended abruptly. Three videos remain online.

Following a series of on- and offline fights, ASAP Mob and Theophilus London appear to cut ties with Connor, and in the process, become the first members of Connor’s inner circle to publicly acknowledge the rape accusations against him.