Naomi Campbell has been banned from serving as a charity trustee for five years due to financial misconduct uncovered by a Charity Commission inquiry into her charity, Fashion for Relief. The investigation revealed lavish spending and minimal contributions to charitable causes, prompting severe repercussions for Campbell and fellow trustees.
Naomi Campbell has been disqualified from acting as a charity trustee for five years after a Charity Commission investigation revealed serious financial misconduct at her charity, Fashion for Relief. The inquiry disclosed that a mere fraction of the nearly £4.8 million raised from celebrity fashion events was allocated to legitimate charitable efforts.
The investigation found that the charity inappropriately spent substantial amounts on extravagant expenses, including luxury hotel accommodations, flights, spa treatments, personal security, and even cigarettes. Additionally, unauthorized consultancy payments totaling hundreds of thousands of pounds were made to one of Campbell’s fellow trustees.
From 2016 to 2021, Fashion for Relief raised approximately £4.8 million, yet only about £389,000 was granted to partner charities after accounting for event costs. The report indicated that significant funds owed to charities, including £375,000 to Save the Children, were not paid on time, leading to major issues within the charity.
As a result of the inquiry, other trustees were also disqualified, including Bianka Hellmich, who received unauthorized consultancy fees. The Commission stressed the importance of trustees acting in the best interests of their charities and fulfilling their legal obligations. Following these findings, Fashion for Relief was deemed insolvent and officially wound up in March 2024. Save the Children expressed appreciation for the thorough inquiry, which enabled the recovery of outstanding funds owed to them.
