Naomi Campbell faces a 5-year ban from charity role following financial probe
Naomi Campbell has been prohibited from acting as a trustee for any charity for five years after a U.K. oversight body uncovered financial mismanagement involving her charity, Fashion for Relief.
A report disclosed by the U.K. Charity Commission on Thursday declared that the charity was “poorly governed” and exhibited “inadequate financial management.”
The investigation revealed that the charity allocated less than 9% of its income to grants and other charitable causes, while some expenses, including luxurious accommodations and security measures for Campbell during the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, were deemed “unreasonable.” Additional questionable expenses included spa visits, room service, and cigarette purchases.
YSL News has reached out to Campbell’s representatives for a statement.
Two of Campbell’s fellow trustees, Bianka Hellmich and Veronica Chou, are also facing bans of nine and four years, respectively. The Charity Commission’s investigation revealed that Hellmich had received unauthorized consultancy fees exceeding £290,000, which is over $388,000.
The commission pointed out that Fashion for Relief “failed to properly manage” its partnerships with two charities: the Save the Children Fund and the Mayor’s Fund for London. To address outstanding debts totaling about £345,000, or over $460,000, interim managers were appointed to ensure payments were made to these charities.
“This investigation, along with the interim managers we designated to oversee the charity in place of the trustees, has enabled the recovery of £344,000 and the safeguarding of an additional £98,000 in charitable funds,” stated Tim Hopkins, deputy director of the Charity Commission, in a press release. “I am delighted that this inquiry has resulted in donations being made to other charities which this charity had previously supported.”
Fashion for Relief, which was officially registered in 2015 after being founded a decade earlier, was dissolved and removed from the U.K. charity register this past March.
The renowned British supermodel established Fashion For Relief in 2005, claiming on its website to have backed numerous vital humanitarian efforts, including aid for the Ebola outbreak, Hurricane Katrina, and campaigns like Time’s Up.
