British supermodel Naomi Campbell is to appeal against a five-year ban preventing her from acting as a trustee for any charity. The 54-year-old fashion icon has claimed that a fake email account was used to impersonate her in communications related to the management of her charity, Fashion for Relief, and that she was not given the opportunity to respond to the allegations.
The Charity Commission, which oversees charities in England and Wales, had disqualified Campbell along with two other trustees after an investigation revealed serious mismanagement of funds at the organisation. The inquiry, which was launched in 2021, found that Fashion for Relief had used charitable donations inappropriately, including paying for Campbell’s luxury stay at a five-star hotel in Cannes, France, as well as spa treatments, room service, and even cigarettes.
At the time of the findings, Campbell expressed her “extreme concern” over the Charity Commission’s report, asserting that she was “not in control of my charity” and that control had been placed in the hands of a lawyer. The investigation revealed that between April 2016 and July 2022, only 8.5% of the charity’s overall expenditure went towards charitable grants, raising questions about the organisation’s financial priorities.
Campbell’s legal team has now submitted evidence to suggest that documents given to the Charity Commission may have misrepresented her involvement in the charity’s operations. They have presented evidence of a fraudulent email account that was allegedly used to impersonate the supermodel in communications with the charity’s lawyers, thereby preventing her from being made aware of the allegations and hindering her ability to respond to them during the investigation.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Campbell said, “I am grateful to the tribunal for allowing me to appeal the Charity Commission’s findings after considering the evidence I have submitted. Ever since the commission’s report, I have fought to uncover the facts. What has been unearthed so far is shocking.”
The model also expressed her desire to expose the ease with which fake identities can be created online, warning that such incidents should not be allowed to occur again in the future. She emphasised that she had never engaged in philanthropic work for personal gain, stating, “I want to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and justice is done.”
The inquiry into Fashion for Relief found several questionable expenses, including a €14,800 (£12,300) flight from London to Nice for transferring art and jewellery to a fundraising event in Cannes in 2018. In addition to the €9,400 (£7,800) spent on Campbell’s hotel stay, the charity was also found to have covered nearly €7,940 (£6,600) in expenses for Campbell, including spa treatments, room service, and even the purchase of cigarettes and hotel products.
Despite the charity’s explanation that some hotel costs were typically covered by a donor, the Commission found no evidence to support this claim, suggesting that the expenditure may have been mismanaged. The regulator concluded that the trustees failed to ensure that funds were used appropriately and cost-effectively, or that the charity’s fundraising methods were in its best interests.
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The Charity Commission’s inquiry led to the disqualification of Campbell, Bianka Hellmich (who received a nine-year ban), and Veronica Chou (who was banned for four years). In total, £344,000 has been recovered, and a further £98,000 of charitable funds have been protected, according to the regulator’s update from September 2024.
A spokesperson for the Charity Commission said, “These are significant allegations for the courts to consider, and we will continue to co-operate fully with the tribunal as it does so.”
The case will now proceed to a tribunal, where Campbell is expected to make her case for appealing the disqualification. She has expressed a determination to ensure that those responsible for the alleged mismanagement of funds are held to account and to uncover the truth behind the charity’s financial activities.
As the legal proceedings unfold, Campbell remains adamant that her philanthropic efforts were always motivated by a desire to help those in need and not for personal gain. The outcome of the tribunal could have lasting implications for both Campbell’s reputation and the broader issue of charity governance.
