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Naomi Campbell has been prohibited from managing any charitable organization in England and Wales for the next five years following an investigation that accused her of financial misconduct within her charity.
On Thursday, Sept. 26, the UK's Charity Commission released a report revealing that the 54-year-old supermodel was involved in the "mismanagement" and "poor governance" of her Fashion for Relief organization, which was founded in January 2015 to support various humanitarian and environmental initiatives.
The report accused Campbell and others involved in the charity of using funds for personal luxury, including costly flights, extravagant hotel accommodations, and other indulgences.
"These expenses covered spa treatments, room service, cigarettes, and other hotel services," the investigation revealed.
As a named trustee in the report, Campbell was also criticized for failing to adhere to the charity's constitution, with the inquiry highlighting the absence of formal meeting records.
An audit of financial transactions disclosed that on May 11, 2018, €14,800 was spent on a flight from London to Nice. According to the trustees, this flight was arranged to transport valuable art and jewelry, worth over €1.5 million, to a fundraising event in Cannes. The report noted that both a former trustee and a significant donor were on board.
The commission's findings further revealed that, between April 2016 and July 2022, only 8.5% of the charity's overall spending went toward charitable grants. Earlier this year, in March 2024, Fashion for Relief was formally dissolved.
In response to the allegations, Campbell addressed the Associated Press on Thursday after receiving France's Order of Arts and Letters for her contributions to French culture. She denied the accusations, expressing her deep concern over the findings.
"I was not managing my charity personally. I had delegated control to legal professionals," she explained. "We are investigating the situation, and I can assure you that every penny I have raised goes to charity."
