British supermodel Naomi Campbell He appeared at a London court on Tuesday to give evidence in a bid to overturn an official decision banning him from serving on the board of a charity in England and Wales.
In 2024, the UK’s charity regulator disqualified Campbell, 56, as a charity trustee for five years after finding serious financial mismanagement of Fashion for Relief, a charity she founded.
The Charity Commission stated at the time that thousands of pounds of the charity’s funds were used to pay for a stay at a luxury hotel in Cannes, France, for Campbell, as well as spa treatments, room service and even cigarettes.
According to the regulator, only 8.5% of the charity’s total spending went to charitable donations in a six-year period from 2016.
Campbell appealed his ban last year, claiming to be a victim of fraud and forgery. In a written statement before testifying on Tuesday, the model stated that she “has never done philanthropic work for personal benefit, nor will she ever do so.”
“My investigation has revealed identity fraud and deception, and helps clarify why most of the funds were not used as intended,” he stated. “What my legal team has discovered is shocking, and includes false email addresses and falsified communications with authorities.”
The commission also found that trustee Bianka Hellmich received around £290,000 ($385,000) of unauthorized funds for consultancy services. She was disqualified as a trustee for nine years. A third trustee, Veronica Chou, was disqualified for four years.
Fashion for Relief was registered in 2015 with the aim of uniting the fashion industry to alleviate poverty and help people affected by natural or other disasters around the world. The organization was dissolved and removed from the charity register in 2024.
