Former supermodel Naomi Campbell has been banned from running a charity after an investigation revealed misuse of funds by her organization, Fashion for Relief. The inquiry, released on Thursday, uncovered that donations were spent on personal expenses, including spa treatments and room service at a luxury hotel in the south of France.
The UK Charity Commission’s findings have led to Campbell, 54, being disqualified from managing any charity for five years. Two other trustees from Fashion for Relief were also banned. Between April 2016 and July 2022, only 8.5% of the charity’s expenditure was directed towards actual charitable causes.
Campbell, who rose to international fame in the 1990s and became the first Black model in 20 years to appear on the cover of UK Vogue, continues to be a prominent figure in fashion. Recently, an exhibition honoring her opened at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum.
Speaking in Paris after receiving a French government honor, Campbell denied responsibility for the mismanagement. “I wasn’t in control of my charity. I left that in the hands of a lawyer,” she told reporters. She added that she is now looking into the matter, emphasizing that her efforts have always been focused on raising funds for good causes.
Star-Studded Events
Fashion for Relief gained attention for its glamorous fundraising events in cities like London and Cannes, supporting causes such as child refugees, Ebola relief efforts, and victims of natural disasters. Celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Antonio Banderas, and Jane Fonda attended these high-profile gatherings.
One particular event in Cannes in 2018 saw Campbell’s charity covering a £7,800 bill for a three-night hotel stay, along with an additional £6,600 spent on spa treatments, room service, and cigarettes. The Charity Commission found no evidence that these expenses were justified, despite claims from the trustees that a donor had promised to cover the costs.
The Commission concluded that serious misconduct had occurred in the charity’s administration, leading to the dissolution of Fashion for Relief earlier this year. Founded in 2005, the charity’s mission was to unite the fashion industry for the greater good and help those facing adversity.
