Marsh condemns New York Post over 9/11 photo claims

Marsh & McLennan has issued a statement vehemently denying claims in the New York Post that images of the World Trade Center were superimposed on the eyes of people photographed for a new advertising campaign.

In the statement, the broker says that it is: “outraged that the New York Post would run a story designed to resurrect the pain and anguish experienced by MMC colleagues and, in particular, the families of those colleagues who perished on September 11, 2001.”

The two columns visible in the eyes of those in the photograph are a result of the technique employed by photographer Martin Schoeller, who uses a lighting technique in which he reflects light from two five-foot high light stanchions into the subject’s eyes.

“It is unfortunate that the Post chose to publish this story with so little regard for the emotional toll it might take on the 9/11 families and survivors

MMC statement

“The mere suggestion that MMC would include, suggest or disregard 9/11 imagery in its ad campaign,” the company added, “is not only wildly wrong, but cruel and despicable. Indeed, it is the Post's own bizarre theory that the photographs are in some way connected to the tragedy of 9/11.”

MMC lost some 355 staff members in the World Trade Center tragedy.

“It is unfortunate that the Post chose to publish this story with so little regard for the emotional toll it might take on the 9/11 families and survivors,” the statement concludes. “The decision to do so in the face of all evidence to the contrary is highly irresponsible and a regrettable example of tabloid journalism that puts sensationalism ahead of the truth. The firm will explore all possible remedies against the newspaper in connection with this matter.”