Celebrities have been going through it this year, particularly with the legal system. Naomi Campbell is the latest on the chopping block across the pond. AP reports that England and Wales have ruled to temporarily ban the supermodel from being a trustee for her own charity, Fashion for Relief.
A three-year investigation into the charity’s financial activities uncovered money mismanagement. The Charity Commissioner spoke about the case on Thursday (Sept. 26), confirming they found “multiple instances of misconduct and/or mismanagement.” The “poorly governed” funds include donations from celebrity-studded events. Only 8.5% of the money Fashion for Relief charity spent was on charitable grants “in a six-year period from 2016,” per AP.
What’s Up With Naomi Campbell & Her Charity Role?
As mentioned, the trustee ban is temporary and will last five years. Campbell isn’t the only trustee in trouble. Fellow trustees Bianka Hellmich and Veronica Chou are disqualified for nine and four years, respectively.
The investigation first began in 2021. Ultimately, it found that charity coins were spent on Naomi Campbell’s spa treatments, a hotel stay in Cannes, France, room service, and cigarettes. Fashion for Relief’s regulator claimed that the hotel stays were covered by donors, but no evidence was submitted to support it. The bills reportedly added up to thousands of pounds (the United Kingdom’s standard money).
Meanwhile, banned trustee Hellmich reportedly collected 290,000 pounds (about $385,000) as consultation fees, which charity policy forbids. A director of investigations and standards said the trustees failed to act in the best interest of the charity and comply with their legal duties.
While Fashion for Relief’s website is still active, the charity dissolved earlier this year. Naomi Campbell founded the company in 2005 with a mission to relieve poverty and push health and education. Its site says the company has raised more than $15 million worldwide causes in nearly 20 years.
The Charity Commission reportedly revealed that they’d recovered about $460,000 of the mismanaged money. Another $98,000 is protected, per the AP. The funds are being used to clear outstanding liabilities and donate to “two other charities.”
Model Reacts To Investigation
On Sept. 26, she popped out in a stunning, striped black-and-white dress with bone-straight inches for an award ceremony during Paris Fashion Week. While out and about, she spoke to the press about the investigation findings. Campbell claimed that she also found out the news on Thursday.
“…and I am extremely concerned, and we are investigating on our side as I am not in control of my charity. I put control in the hands of a legal lawyer and so we are investigating what and how. As everything I do and every penny I’ve ever raised goes toward charities.”
