Naomi Campbell Banned as Charity Trustee Amid Scandal \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ British supermodel Naomi Campbell has been barred from being a charity trustee in England and Wales for five years after her charity, “Fashion for Relief,” was found to be poorly managed. The Charity Commission uncovered multiple instances of mismanagement and inappropriate spending, leading to the dissolution of the organization. Campbell expressed concern over the findings and stated that she was not directly in control of the charity’s operations.
Naomi Campbell Charity Scandal Quick Looks:
- Naomi Campbell has been disqualified from being a trustee for five years.
- Charity Commission discovered financial mismanagement in her charity, “Fashion for Relief.”
- Only 8.5% of the charity’s expenditure went towards charitable grants.
- Campbell’s luxury expenses, such as hotel stays and spa treatments, were flagged as inappropriate.
- Fellow trustee Bianka Hellmich misappropriated £290,000 for consultancy services.
- The charity, founded in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, was dissolved earlier this year.
- £344,000 has been recovered, with further funds secured for donations to other charities.
Deep Look:
Naomi Campbell, the British supermodel, has been barred from serving as a trustee in England and Wales for the next five years. The decision followed a damning report from the Charity Commission, which criticized the governance and financial management of “Fashion for Relief,” the charity she founded in 2005. After a thorough three-year investigation, the Charity Commission concluded that the organization exhibited “poor governance” and “inadequate financial management.”
The investigation revealed that over a six-year period, only 8.5% of the charity’s total expenditure went toward charitable grants. The charity, which aimed to relieve poverty and advance health and education by uniting the fashion industry, had been in operation since the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. However, despite its noble goals, it became embroiled in controversy due to financial discrepancies and improper spending.
Among the most notable findings was the misuse of charity funds for luxury personal expenses. For instance, thousands of pounds were used to pay for Campbell’s hotel stay at a luxury resort in Cannes, France, along with room service, spa treatments, and even cigarettes. The charity’s trustees were asked to explain this expenditure but failed to provide sufficient evidence that these costs were covered by external donors, as claimed.
Campbell, now 54, responded to the findings with concern, acknowledging that she had delegated control of the charity to a legal employer. She expressed her commitment to investigating the matter and ensuring transparency regarding every penny raised for the organization. Her response came during a press conference where she was honored as a knight in France’s Order of Arts and Letters for her contributions to French culture. She assured the public that all funds raised had been intended for charitable causes.
However, Campbell wasn’t the only trustee under scrutiny. Bianka Hellmich, a fellow trustee, was found to have received £290,000 (around $385,000) in unauthorized payments for consultancy services, which violated the charity’s constitution. Hellmich has now been disqualified from holding a trustee position for nine years. Another trustee, Veronica Chou, was also barred from serving for four years due to her involvement.
The Charity Commission emphasized the legal responsibilities of trustees to act in the best interests of their charities and to adhere to their fiduciary duties. Tim Hopkins, the deputy director for specialist investigations and standards at the Charity Commission, stated that the trustees had failed in these duties, prompting their disqualification.
Despite its earlier successes, “Fashion for Relief” was officially dissolved earlier this year and removed from the register of charities in England and Wales. The charity had previously organized fashion initiatives in major cities like New York, London, Moscow, and Mumbai, raising over $15 million for various causes worldwide. The funds recovered from the charity’s dissolution, totaling around £344,000, have since been reallocated to two other charities, while an additional £98,000 has been secured to settle outstanding liabilities.
Hopkins expressed satisfaction with the resolution of the inquiry, noting that the recovered funds were redirected to other charitable organizations previously supported by “Fashion for Relief.”
