Jeremy Ray Meeks (born February 7, 1984)[1] is an American fashion model, actor and convicted felon. A former member of the Crips street gang, Meeks was arrested in 2014 during a gang sweep called Operation Ceasefire in Stockton, California.[2] Afterward, police posted his mugshot on Facebook, which went viral due to his attractive appearance. He was convicted on federal charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and grand theft.[3] Meeks' mugshot was noticed by modeling agencies and, upon his release from Mendota Federal Correctional Institution in March 2016,[4] he began a modeling career.[5][6]
Jeremy Meeks | |
|---|---|
 The mugshot of Meeks that went viral after its publication by the City of Stockton Police Department | |
| Born | February 7, 1984[1] Tacoma, Washington, U.S. |
| Occupation | Model |
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Spouse |
Melissa Meeks
(m. 2008; div. 2018) |
| Partner | Chloe Green (2017–2019) |
| Children | 2 |
| Modeling information | |
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) |
| Hair color | Black |
| Eye color | Gray |
| Agency | White Cross Management (Los Angeles) |
Early life
editMeeks was born in Tacoma, Washington, on February 7, 1984,[1] and is the son of Katherine Angier and Raymond Meeks.[7]
In 2002, Meeks was charged with robbery and corporal injury to a child, assaulting a 16-year-old boy. He was sentenced to serve two years in a California prison, during which he admitted to claiming to be a member of the North Side Gangster Crips.[8]
2014 arrest and viral popularity
editOn June 18, 2014,[8] Stockton Police Department arrested Meeks and three other men in a multi-agency law enforcement mission dubbed Operation Ceasefire. Meeks was listed as a "convicted felon, arrested for felony weapon charges".[9] He denied the charges.[10] The same day, Meeks' and the other men's mugshots were posted on the Stockton Police Department's Facebook page.[9]
Within 24 hours from when the photos were posted to the department's page, Meeks' photo had acquired more than 15,000 "likes" and 3,700 comments,[11] mostly from women enamored of his looks.[12] His multiracial mix of black and white features was widely considered attractive.[13] The next day, on June 19, news and entertainment site BuzzFeed recognized Meeks' mugshot as a "meme".[14]
On Friday, June 20, Twitter fans created the hashtag "#feloncrushfriday" in honor of Meeks' mugshot.[15] Stockton Police Department spokesman Joe Silva acknowledged that the mugshot had received more attention than any other mugshot since they launched the Facebook page in 2012.[16] As of April 2021, the post has received 95,000 "likes", 24,000 comments, and 11,000 shares.[9]
A July 2014 court hearing was set, while Meeks awaited his trial at the San Joaquin County Jail, with his bail set at $1,050,000.[17] Meeks' mother, Katherine Angier, set up a GoFundMe page in an attempt to raise money for his bail.[12] His sister, Leanna Rominger, used the proceeds from the campaign to hire a defense lawyer for him.[18]
On July 3, 2014, a Northern California Grand Jury indicted Meeks on a charge of possession of a semiautomatic .45 caliber pistol that was transported across state borders in the commission of Grand Theft.[19] The state dropped its charges against Meeks and his case was handed over to federal prosecutors.[20]
On February 5, 2015, Meeks was convicted by a federal judge[21] of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison. The judge further ordered Meeks to participate in the 500-Hour Bureau of Prisons Substance Abuse Treatment Program.[22] He was incarcerated at Mendota Federal Correctional Institution.[4] Meeks served 13 months of the sentence, and was released from prison March 8, 2016, after which he was ordered to reside in a transitional housing facility for a few weeks.[23]
Modeling career
edit
On March 4, 2015, photographer and talent agent Jim Jordan's company White Cross Management confirmed having signed a management contract with Meeks.[24] Jordan began working with Meeks upon the latter's release from the transitional housing facility which he was ordered to stay in after his March 2016 release from prison.[25] Meeks' first modeling headshot was published in June 2016.[26] White Cross Management continues to manage Meeks,[27] and featured Meeks on the cover of their online magazines James Magazine USA Vol. VII[28] and White Cross Magazine Vol. 01.[29]
On February 13, 2017, Meeks made his runway debut for the Philipp Plein Fall/Winter 2017/2018 Women's And Men's Fashion Show collection at the New York Public Library during New York Fashion Week.[30] In April, Meeks was scheduled for an appearance and series of photo shoots in the United Kingdom, but was barred from entering the country upon landing in Heathrow Airport. Meeks was interrogated by officials and then sent back to the United States.[31] Meeks made his European runway debut in May 2017 at Philipp Plein’s resort 2018 presentation at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.[32] He then walked for Plein’s spring/summer 2018 sport collection on June 18 during Milan Fashion Week.[33]
In August 2017, Meeks appeared in a campaign for Israeli sunglasses fashion house Carolina Lemke, partially owned by Israeli model Bar Refaeli.[34] The campaign tagged Meeks' background as different from Refaeli's, who appeared in the campaign alongside Meeks, stating, "There has never been a mix like this".[35] In December, Meeks appeared on the cover of the men's fashion magazine MMScene.[36]
Meeks appeared in Tommy Hilfiger's Spring 2018 fashion show in Milan on February 25 of the same year. The show was a collaboration with model Gigi Hadid and ran during Milan Fashion Week.[37] He appeared on the cover of the Summer 2018 issues of the fashion and lifestyle magazines FV[38] and L' Officiel Hommes.[39]
In September 2019, Frankfurt-based fashion company Fashion Concept GmbH announced a $15 million partnership with Meeks to build a fashion line in his name.[40] The fashion line launched in July 2020.[41] In 2022, Fashion Concept GmbH filed for bankruptcy after alleged fraudulent practices were discovered.[42][better source needed]
In November 2019, Meeks became brand ambassador for fragrance line Gisada Switzerland's fragrance duo "Gisada Ambassador."[43]
Acting career
editIn January 2018,[44] Meeks flew to Moscow to appear in the music video "Wi-Fi" by Russian pop singer Olga Buzova.[45]
Meeks made his feature film debut in 2020 with the BET+ streaming feature Trigger.[46] In 2021, Meeks appeared in the independent feature film Secret Society; the film was directed by Jamal Hill, and is based on the book of the same name by Miasha Coleman.[47]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Trigger | Trey Mass | TV Movie |
| True to the Game 2 | Saleem | ||
| 2021 | Dutch | Craze | |
| Secret Society | Khalil | ||
| Dear Best Friend | Jamie | TV Movie | |
| True to the Game 3 | Saleem | ||
| 2022 | The Wrong High School Sweetheart | Camp Sweetheart | TV Movie |
| Circumstances 3 | Big L | ||
| Unfair Exchange | Chad Perry | ||
| Secret Society 2: Never Enough | Khalil | ||
| 2023 | Dance For Me | Seth Calloway | TV Movie |
| Secret Society 3: 'Til Death | Khalil | ||
| 2024 | Dutch II: Angel's Revenge | Craze | |
| TBA | Beach Chain | Dwayde | |
| Doggmen | Sparks | ||
| Rise of the Tarrogan | Dime |
Writing career
editMeeks will release an autobiographical book titled Model Citizen: The Autobiography of Jeremy Meeks in September 2024.[48][better source needed]
Personal life
editMeeks has a child with Melissa Meeks, to whom he was married from 2008 to 2018.[49]
In June 2017, it was reported that Meeks was in a relationship with Chloe Green, the daughter of British businessman Philip Green. Meeks had gone on a trip to Turkey, where the first images of him and Green came out on a yacht.[50] On May 29, 2018, Green gave birth to the couple's son.[51] In August 2019, it was reported the couple had amicably split and were selling their joint London home.[52]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Jeremy Meeks kisses Chloe Green on Courchevel ski break". Metro. February 7, 2019.
- ^ Barsh, Emily (May 28, 2024). "Jeremy 'Hot Felon' Meeks: Convict to cover model? - HLNtv.com". hlntv.com.
- ^ "'Hot mugshot guy' Jeremy Meeks has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison". Washington Post. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
- ^ a b Newman, Vicki (February 15, 2017). "Who is Jeremy Meeks? Everything you need to know about the 'Hot Convict' storming New York Fashion Week" (Online). Daily Mirror. London: Reach plc. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Rocha, Veronica (March 9, 2016). "'Hot Felon' Jeremy Meeks released from federal prison and gets job offers" – via LA Times.
- ^ "The 'hot felon' is now a successful model". independent.co.uk. June 19, 2017. Archived from the original on June 8, 2022.
- ^ McAfee, Tierney (June 20, 2014). "Jeremy Meeks: Sexy Felon Is A 'Crips Member,' Police Say". Hollywood Life. Archived from the original on August 15, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
- ^ a b Megan Rosshl (June 21, 2014). "Jeremy Meeks: Beat Up Teenager To A 'Pulp' In 2002 — Report". Hollywood Life. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
- ^ a b c Stockton Police Department (June 18, 2014). "SPD NEWS - WESTON RANCH OPERATION CEASEFIRE ENFORCEMENT MISSION" (Social Media). Facebook.com. Menlo Park, CA: Facebook, Inc. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ Camilli, Doug (July 3, 2014). "Viral convict Jeremy Meeks scores a modelling agent". Montréal Gazette. Montréal: Postmedia Network: B14. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ McDonald, Ian (June 18, 2014). "4 Arrested in Weapons Sweep; 1 Getting Extra Attention Online". Fox40.com. Sacramento, CA: KTXL-TV. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ a b Banks, Sandy (July 1, 2014). "Swooning Over a Mugshot". Los Angeles Times. CXXXIII (210). Los Angeles: "World Report" section, p. 3. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ Curington, Celeste Vaughan; Lundquist, Jennifer Hickes; Lin, Ken-Hou (2021). The Dating Divide: Race and Desire in the Era of Online Romance. University of California Press. p. 197. doi:10.2307/j.ctv1gwqmnk. ISBN 978-0-520-29344-1. JSTOR j.ctv1gwqmnk.
- ^ Jones, Saeed (June 19, 2014). "Time For An OZ Marathon" (Online). Buzzfeed.com. New York: Buzzfeed, Inc. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ Stebner, Beth; Adams Otis, Ginger (June 21, 2014). "Web goes wild for 'model' prisoner". New York Daily News. 95 (361). New York: Daily News L.P.: 3. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ "Facebook mug sensation arraigned in Stockton". The Sacramento Bee. 302 (172). Sacramento: The McClatchy Co.: B3 June 21, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ "Reports: 'Hot Convict' Jeremy Meeks Signs Modeling Contract" (Online). CBS Sacramento. West Sacramento, CA: KOVR-TV. July 2, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ Pressler, Jessica (June 2016). "The Felon is Hot" (Online). The Cut. New York: Vox Media. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ "NorCal Grand Jury Indicts 'Hot Convict' Jeremy Meeks On Gun Charges" (Online). San Francisco: KPIX-TV. July 3, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ "'Dreamy' Felon Jeremy Meeks Gets Bad News in Court" (Online). NBC Mews. July 8, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ Molinet, Jason (February 5, 2015). "Model prisoner: 'Hot convict' Jeremy Meeks sentenced to two years in federal prison" (Online). New York Daily News. New York. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ "Jeremy Meeks Sentenced To 2 Years In Prison" (Online). CBS Sacramento. West Sacramento, CA: KOVR-TV. February 5, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ "'Hot felon' trading prison for runway". The Tampa Tribune. Tampa, FL: Tampa Media Group, Inc.: 2 March 11, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Heigl, Alex (March 4, 2015). "'Hot Convict' Jeremy Meeks Finally Signs That Modeling Contract in Jail" (Online). People.com. Des Moines IA: Meredith Corporation. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ Holley, Peter (March 31, 2016). "The 'hot mugshot guy' is free: 'It's almost as if being in jail for so long made him hotter'" (Online). The Washington Post. Washington, DC: Nash Holdings. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Reed, Sam (June 14, 2016). "Jeremy Meeks' First Professional Headshot Has Arrived" (Online). The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles: MRC. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ "JEREMY MEEKS: MODEL, ACTOR". White Cross Management. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ "VOLUME VII - JEREMY MEEKS" (Online). James Magazine USA. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ "VOL. 01 - JEREMY MEEKS" (Online). White Cross Magazine USA. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
- ^ "'Hot Convict' Jeremy Meeks Debuts On Runway At New York Fashion Week" (Online). CBS Sacramento. West Sacramento, CA: KOVR-TV. February 13, 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Blair, Olivia (April 25, 2017). "Jeremy Meeks: 'Hot Felon' model barred from entering the UK at Heathrow Airport" (Online). The Independent. London: Independent Digital News & Media Ltd. Archived from the original on June 8, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Carballo, Charlie (May 25, 2017). "Former 'Hot Felon' Jeremy Meeks Hits the Runway With Paris Hilton for Philipp Plein's Resort 2018 Show" (Online). Footwear News. New York: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Truong, Peggy (June 19, 2017). "Hot Felon Jeremy Meeks and His Shirtless Bod Are on the Runway Again" (Online). Cosmopolitan. New York: Hearst Communications. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Davidovich, Joshua (August 30, 2017). "Bar Refaeli to star in ad with 'world's hottest felon'" (Online). The Times of Israel. Jerusalem. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ "(Untitled social media post)" (Social Media). Facebook.com (in Hebrew). Melno Park, CA: Facebook, Inc. October 13, 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ "JEREMY MEEKS COVERS MMSCENE #020" (Online). Male Model Scene. December 20, 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Adducci, Shannon (February 25, 2018). "Gigi Hadid and Tommy Hilfiger Closed Out Milan Fashion Week With a Race Car-Themed Extravaganza" (Online). Footwear News. New York: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ "Jeremy Meeks is the Cover Star of FV Magazine Summer 2018 Issue" (Online). Male Model Scene. May 11, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Huerliman, Mark, ed. (Summer 2018). "Rebellisch". L'Officiel Hommes Schweiz (in French) (8). Paris: Jalou Media Group: Cover, 140–149. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ "Fashion Concept GmbH: Jeremy Meeks to conquer fashion world" (Press Release). Business Wire. Omaha, NE: Berkshire Hathaway Inc. September 27, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ King, Fattie (July 27, 2020). "Model Jeremy Meeks launches his own fashion brand". Fashion Maniac. Archived from the original (Blog) on August 15, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ bender-pfitzmann (October 26, 2022). "FashionConcept insolvent: Jetzt Geld zurückholen von Pegasus". Bender und Pfitzmann Rechtsanwälte (in German). Retrieved April 27, 2023.
- ^ Raičević Petrović, Sandra (November 18, 2019). "Gisada Ambassador Duo: New Fragrances" (Online). Fragrantica. San Diego, CA. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ "'World's hottest felon' arrives in Moscow to star in Russian music video" (Online). Russia Beyond. January 31, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ "First look at Olga Buzova's new music video featuring Jeremy Meeks" (Online). Frivolette magazine. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Daniels, Karu F. (October 21, 2020). "'Hot Felon' Jeremy Meeks makes film debut in BET+ thriller 'Trigger'" (Online). New York Daily News. New York: Daily News LP. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Fashion Bomb Daily (March 21, 2021). "On the Scene at the Pajama-Themed Premiere of 'Secret Society' Movie in Atlanta Hosted by Claire Sulmers: Moments With the Film's Executive Producer Miasha Coleman and Stars 'Prison Bae' Jeremy Meeks, Erica Pinkett, Reyna Love + More". SME News. Moscow. Archived from the original (Online) on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Meeks, Jeremy. Model Citizen: The Autobiography of Jeremy Meeks. Kingston Imperial. ISBN 9781954220669.
- ^ Cardoza, Riley (October 21, 2020). "'Hot Felon' Jeremy Meeks Talks Coparenting With Exes Chloe Green and Melissa Meeks: 'Incredible Mothers'" (Online). US magazine. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ^ Corcoran, Kieran (June 7, 2018). "Topshop heiress Chloe Green has had a baby with 'hot felon' Jeremy Meeks". Business Insider.
- ^ Juneau, Jen (June 7, 2018). "'Hot Felon' Jeremy Meeks Welcomes Son Jayden with Girlfriend Chloe Green". People.
- ^ Hearon, Sarah (August 12, 2019). "'Hot Felon' Jeremy Meeks and Chloe Green Split After 2 Years Together". US Magazine.
