British supermodel Naomi Campbell has been barred from serving as a charity trustee in England and Wales for five years, following a three-year investigation into the financial activities of her charity, Fashion for Relief, the Charity Commission announced Thursday.
The commission, which regulates charities in England and Wales, found “multiple instances of misconduct and/or mismanagement” in the charity’s operations. Notably, only 8.5% of the charity’s overall expenditure went towards charitable grants over a six-year period from 2016.
Among the findings, the investigation revealed that thousands of pounds of charity funds were used to cover Campbell’s luxury hotel stay in Cannes, France, including spa treatments, room service, and cigarettes. The regulator reported that trustees failed to provide evidence supporting their claim that hotel costs were typically covered by a donor.
Campbell, 54, responded to the findings during an event in France where she was named a knight in the Order of Arts and Letters. “I was not in control of my charity, I put the control in the hands of a legal employer,” she stated, adding that an investigation on her part was underway. “We are investigating to find out what and how, and everything I do and every penny I ever raised goes to charity.”
The commission’s inquiry also implicated fellow trustees Bianka Hellmich and Veronica Chou. Hellmich received approximately 290,000 pounds ($385,000) in unauthorized funds for consultancy services, violating the charity’s constitution, and has been disqualified as a trustee for nine years. Chou has been barred from trusteeship for four years.
Tim Hopkins, deputy director for specialist investigations and standards at the Charity Commission, emphasized the legal requirements for trustees to act in their charity’s best interests and comply with their duties and responsibilities.
Fashion for Relief, founded by Campbell in 2005 following Hurricane Katrina, was dissolved and removed from the charity register earlier this year. The charity claimed to have raised over $15 million for various causes through fashion initiatives in cities including New York, London, Cannes, Moscow, Mumbai, and Dar es Salaam.
As a result of the investigation, approximately 344,000 pounds ($460,000) has been recovered, and an additional 98,000 pounds of charitable funds have been protected and redirected to other charities previously supported by Fashion for Relief.
AP
