Naomi Campbell has been slapped with a five-year ban from serving as a charity trustee in England and Wales, following a damning investigation that uncovered a web of financial misconduct within her philanthropic organization. On Thursday, the Charity Commission, the watchdog that oversees charitable endeavors in the region, released a comprehensive report stemming from a three-year probe into Fashion For Relief, the 54-year-old British supermodel's flagship charity. The verdict? The organization was deemed "poorly governed and plagued by shoddy financial practices."
The Commission's findings painted a bleak picture, revealing "numerous instances of misconduct and/or mismanagement" at Fashion For Relief. Shockingly, it was discovered that from April 2016 to July 2022, a mere 8.5% of the charity's total expenditures went towards actual charitable grants and causes.
The investigation dug even deeper, uncovering lavish expenditures that bordered on the absurd. It transpired that Fashion For Relief had squandered thousands of pounds from its charitable coffers to fund a luxurious hotel stay for Campbell in Cannes, France, complete with indulgent spa treatments, room service, and even cigarettes.
In response to the Charity Commission's damning report, Campbell issued a statement through CBS News, acknowledging her responsibility as the face of Fashion For Relief but emphasizing her detachment from day-to-day operations. "I recognize that, as the face of Fashion for Relief, I am ultimately responsible for its conduct," she said. "However, I was not intimately involved in the charity's operational details, entrusting the legal and managerial aspects to others." Campbell vowed to take corrective action, stating that she has commissioned new advisors to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
She further underscored her commitment to philanthropy, telling the Associated Press, "Everything I do and every penny I ever raise goes to charity."
The investigation didn't stop there, also exposing the unauthorized receipt of nearly $385,000 in consultancy fees by fellow trustee Bianka Hellmich, a blatant violation of the charity's constitution. Consequently, Hellmich was disqualified as a trustee for nine years, while the other trustee, Veronica Chou, faced a four-year ban.
Despite the controversies, Fashion For Relief's website continues to showcase its global reach, boasting fashion initiatives and projects in New York, London, Cannes, Moscow, Mumbai, and Dar es Salaam, claiming to have raised over $15 million for worthy causes worldwide. Originally conceived as a platform to unite the fashion industry in alleviating poverty and promoting health and education, the charity aimed to achieve this through granting funds to other organizations and responding to global disasters.
The Charity Commission reported that approximately $460,000 has been recovered, and an additional $130,000 in charitable funds has been safeguarded. These funds were redirected towards donations to two other charities and settling outstanding debts, mitigating some of the damage caused by the mismanagement.
