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On June 29, 2024, a night out in East Harlem turned into a harrowing ordeal for Patrick Cooper. The 35-year-old claims that renowned Italian fashion designer Riccardo Tisci secretly drugged his drink and later sexually assaulted him at the designer's SoHo townhouse. This accusation has now become the basis of a civil lawsuit filed in New York Supreme Court on April 29, 2025.
According to the complaint, Cooper met Tisci through a mutual friend and joined him and others at 2 Sisters 4 Brothers, a restaurant on East 116th Street. "I just went out to have a good night. My intentions were never to end up in Riccardo Tisci's bed," Cooper told The Independent. He alleges that shortly after finishing his drink, he became disoriented and lost all memory of what happened next.
Cooper says he woke up naked beside Tisci in the designer's King Street residence with no recollection of how he got there. "When I woke up, he was kissing me," he said. His complaint asserts that he was unable to consent, resist, or defend himself due to the unknown substance allegedly administered by Tisci.
Cooper, who identifies as bisexual, immediately sought medical help and underwent a rape kit examination. He then filed a police report. "I remember sipping the drink, and I don't remember anything else," he said. "To this day, I still don't remember anything. Nothing."
The lawsuit accuses Tisci, 50, of assault, battery, false imprisonment, and emotional distress. It also cites New York's Gender-Motivated Violence Act. Cooper is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages.
Tisci, famed for his work with fashion icons such as Madonna, Kim Kardashian, and Beyoncé, has denied the allegations. "These allegations are categorically untrue," his spokesperson told PEOPLE. "Riccardo looks forward to clearing his name... and will obtain vindication through due process."
The NYPD has declined to confirm details of the investigation but reaffirmed its stance on such matters. "The NYPD takes sexual assault and rape cases extremely seriously," a spokesperson said, urging survivors to report incidents for thorough investigation and access to support services.
As legal proceedings begin, the case casts a shadow over one of fashion's most celebrated figures. With public attention mounting and both parties holding firm to their accounts, the matter now lies in the hands of the courts.
