Accusations of Misusing Charitable Funds for Personal Expenses
On September 27, Reuters reported that supermodel Naomi Campbell has faced a ban from leading any charitable organization in the UK and Wales for five years, following an investigation into the alleged mismanagement of her charity, Fashion for Relief.
Founded by Naomi in 2015, Fashion for Relief was established to generate funds for humanitarian causes via fashion shows. However, in early 2024, it was removed from the UK charity register.
According to an investigation report released on September 26, the Charity Commission of England uncovered multiple instances of misconduct and inadequate management.
From 2016 to 2022, Fashion for Relief raised approximately £4.8 million (around $6.4 million) through various fashion events. However, the regulatory body found that only about 8.5% (approximately £389,000 or $520,000) was designated for charitable grants after deducting event-related expenses and fees.
Among the concerning findings, thousands of pounds were reportedly used for Naomi’s personal expenses, including spa treatments, room service, and utility bills at luxury hotels.
A-List Celebrities Linked to Alleged Misappropriation of Charitable Funds
Notable questionable expenditures included a €14,800 ($16,500) flight from London to Nice for transporting artwork and jewelry to a charity event in Cannes in 2018, €9,400 ($10,490) for a three-night stay at a luxurious hotel, and nearly €7,940 ($8,861) spent on spa services and tobacco, along with other hotel-related costs.
The Charity Commission stated that the trustees claimed hotel expenses were typically funded by charity sponsors rather than from charity funds. However, they could not provide any documentation to back this assertion.
Additionally, the investigation identified Bianka Hellmich, a trustee of Naomi’s charity, who received £290,000 ($388,000) in unauthorized consulting fees and £26,000 (almost $35,000) in travel expenses over two years. Hellmich has since been prohibited from serving as a trustee for nine years, while another trustee, Veronica Chou, has received a four-year ban.
“Trustees are legally obligated to make decisions in the charity’s best interests and to fulfill their legal duties and responsibilities. Our investigation revealed that the trustees of this charity failed to do so,” commented Tim Hopkins, deputy director of the Charity Commission.
The regulatory body has successfully recovered over £400,000 ($535,000) from the Fashion for Relief organization, which was applied to settle the charity’s debts. The remaining funds were redistributed to other charitable organizations.
Interestingly, on the same day Naomi was banned from serving as a charitable trustee, she was honored with the title of Knight of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture.
Naomi Campbell’s Wealth Before the Charitable Scandal
Following the award, Naomi expressed to AP News: “I only learned about these findings today, and I am extremely concerned. We are conducting an investigation because I did not manage my charity; I trusted it to a lawyer. We are scrutinizing how I operate and how every penny I raised was intended for charitable purposes.”
Naomi Campbell, whose full name is Naomi Elaine Campbell, was born on May 22, 1970, in London. Her mother, Valerie Morris, is a Jamaican dancer of Chinese descent. Naomi has never met her father, who left her mother during her pregnancy. Later, she adopted her stepfather’s surname.
Due to her mother’s career, Naomi was introduced to the entertainment world at a young age. She appeared in Bob Marley’s music video “Is This Love” at just 7 years old and danced in Culture Club’s “I’ll Tumble 4 Ya” at the age of 12.
While shopping in Covent Garden at the age of 15, she was discovered by Beth Boldt, director of the modeling agency Synchro Model Agency. By the time she turned 16, she graced the cover of British Elle.
Naomi’s modeling career skyrocketed, and by the late 1980s and 1990s, she was recognized as one of the top three supermodels in the world, alongside Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, and Kate Moss.
While many of her contemporaries have retired, Naomi continues to maintain a strong presence in the fashion industry.
Known as the “Black Panther” of modeling, she has appeared on the covers of over 500 magazines and is celebrated as the first black model to feature on the covers of French Vogue, British Vogue, and Time.
Beyond modeling, Naomi has explored various fields, including music, writing, acting, and producing reality TV shows, achieving considerable success. However, her primary fame remains rooted in her modeling career.
According to Marie Claire, Naomi Campbell ranks 10th on the list of “Richest Models of All Time,” with her net worth estimated at around $80 million by Celebrity Net Worth.
In addition to her modeling endeavors, Naomi has been actively involved in charitable efforts. In 2007, she was appointed honorary president of Athla Onlus, an Italian charity focused on supporting socially integrating young people with learning disorders. That same year, she was named ambassador for Rio de Janeiro due to her contributions to We Love Brazil, an organization she founded in 2005 to combat poverty in Brazil.
Two years later, she became a goodwill ambassador for the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, collaborating with the charity’s founder to advocate for the essentials of safe pregnancy and childbirth. In the same year, she received the honorary patron title from the Philosophy Society at Trinity College (USA) for her charitable contributions.
Naomi was also awarded the Outstanding Contribution Award by British Elle in 2010, recognizing her career achievements and her role as an ambassador for the White Ribbon Alliance.
The Fashion for Relief charity, now entangled in controversy, was initially established to raise funds for victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, as well as the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, the 2008 Haiti earthquake, and the 2011 Japan earthquake.
Naomi has dedicated nearly 20 years to contributing to charitable causes.
Given her notable background, Naomi’s ban from charitable activities has sparked public outrage. Many social media users took to Instagram to voice their discontent and to chastise the 54-year-old supermodel.
Comments from the audience included: “Get her off the catwalk. Fame doesn’t absolve her responsibilities,” “Rich and wanting more with the charity money from the poor. Truly shameful,” “I hope they arrest her,” “I always suspected something dark was behind her. She may evade the law, but eventually, it will catch up to her,” “It’s time for jail,” “I’m sure she hasn’t made enough money from modeling,” “This is unacceptable…”
Source: K14
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