Naomi Campbell Banned For Spending Charity Money On Cigarettes, Spa

British supermodel Naomi Campbell has been banned from serving as a charity trustee for five years after the Charity Commission found serious mismanagement of funds at her charity, Fashion for Relief.

The investigation revealed that the charity’s funds were used for Campbell’s stay at a five-star hotel in Cannes, France, as well as for spa treatments, room service, and cigarettes.

Naomi Campbell, who founded Fashion for Relief as a charity in 2015, was one of three trustees disqualified as a result of the probe. Commenting on the findings, she said, “I just found out today about the findings, and I’m extremely concerned, and we are investigating on our side as I was not in control of my charity. I put the control in the hands of a lawyer.” She added, “Everything I do and every penny I ever raised goes towards charities.”

The Charity Commission, which oversees charities in England and Wales, opened its inquiry into Fashion for Relief in 2021. The charity, which aimed to unite the fashion industry to relieve poverty and support health and education, hosted fundraising events in Cannes and London to generate income. However, the commission found that only 8.5% of the charity’s overall expenditure went to charitable grants between April 2016 and July 2022.

The regulator’s report highlighted several incidents of misconduct, including a 14,800 euro (£12,300) flight to transport art and jewellery to a fundraising event in Cannes. Additionally, 9,400 euros (£7,800) were spent on a three-night stay at a five-star hotel for Campbell, and another 7,940 euros (£6,600) were used for spa treatments and other personal expenses.

The commission stated that trustees failed to justify these expenses or prove that they were cost-effective and beneficial to the charity’s mission. Although trustees claimed that a donor usually covered the hotel expenses, they could not provide any evidence to support this.

As a result, the charity was dissolved earlier this year, and Naomi Campbell, along with trustees Bianka Hellmich and Veronica Chou, received bans ranging from four to nine years. The disqualification means they are prohibited from serving as trustees or holding senior management positions in any charity in England and Wales during their ban periods.

Despite the disqualification, Campbell remains hopeful for a resolution. “We are investigating to find out what and how, as everything I do and every penny I ever raised goes towards charities,” she reiterated.

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