Naomi Campbell was previously banned from being a charity trustee after a UK watchdog found charity funds were spent on luxury hotels and spa treatments
Naomi Campbell kept her head down as she arrived in court over her charity ban, two years after she was disqualified from being a trustee.
In 2024, the Charity Commission’s report found serious mismanagement of funds at the charity the supermodel founded, Fashion for Relief. As a result, she was one of three trustees to be disqualified.
The inquiry found Fashion for Relief was not passing on as much of the money raised as it was supposed to. Instead it was being spent on cigarettes and security for Campbell and other unauthorised payments to one of her fellow charity trustees. A UK watchdog found charity funds were spent on luxury hotels and spa treatments.
Following the report, Naomi announced her decision to lodge an appeal, branding the findings “deeply flawed”.
Today the 56-year-old was pictured making her way into the central London tribunal, dressed in a long black, buttoned-up coat dress with peplum detailing. She accessorised simply with brown sunglasses, colourful beaded bracelets and a black bag.
The Charity Commission, which registers and regulates charities in England and Wales, opened an inquiry into Fashion for Relief in 2021. Naomi founded the organisation in 2005, as a way of uniting the fashion industry to relieve poverty and advance health and education by providing resources and making grants after global disasters.
The charity organised fashion shows to provide relief for those affected by Hurricane Katrina, the Syrian refugee crisis and earthquakes in Haiti and Japan, among many others.
The Charity Commission opened an inquiry into the foundation in 2021, and allegedly found serious mismanagement of funds including hotel stays and spa treatments. It was dissolved and removed from the registry of charities three years later.
During the inquiry, it was found that, between April 2016 and July 2022, 8.5% of the charity’s overall expenditure was on charitable grants. The regulator also found that charity money had been held on its behalf by solicitors and accountants instead of being run through a dedicated bank account in the charity’s name.
There was also evidence discovered that showed unreasonable fundraising expenditure, including £7,800 on a three-night stay at a five-star hotel in Cannes for Naomi. The fashion icon was one of three trustees to be disqualified, alongside Bianka Hellmich and Veronica Chou – who had been banned for nine years and four years respectively.
However, she later argued against the result and claimed that the Charity Commission was “incomplete and misleading in their consideration of evidence”.
“After carefully reviewing the Charity Commission’s report concerning Fashion for Relief (UK), I find their conclusions to be incomplete and misleading in their consideration of evidence,” she said after the ban was announced. “First of all, I recognise that, as the face of Fashion for Relief, I am ultimately responsible for its conduct. Unfortunately, I was not involved in the day-to-day operations of the organisation and I entrusted the legal and operational management to others.
“I want to assure everyone who has supported us that these findings are being taken very seriously. I have instructed new advisers to undertake a detailed investigation of what transpired. Secondly, I have never undertaken philanthropic work for personal gain, nor will I ever do so. I’ve dedicated nearly 30 years of my life to charitable initiatives and I care deeply about the value and impact of the work I do.”
“Contrary to media reports, I have never been paid a fee for my participation in Fashion for Relief nor billed any personal expenses to the organisation. It’s important to me that this point is made clear and emphatically.”
“Finally, we believe aspects of the report are deeply flawed,” she added. “We have concerns about specific points and intend to consider all options, including requesting an appeal, to ensure that the report presents a fair and accurate representation of our operations. remain dedicated to using my platform to uplift others through the creative arts.
“This experience has only strengthened my resolve to continue making a positive impact in the world. I am grateful for the unwavering support of our donors, partners and supporters. Your trust and patience during this challenging time are deeply appreciated as we work diligently to address these issues and emerge stronger in our mission to help those in need.”
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