Supermodel Naomi Campbell publicly addressed her shortcomings as a trustee of the Fashion for Relief charity, which she founded, as reported on Friday. While admitting that she may not have been as involved in the charity's day-to-day operations as necessary, Campbell strongly denied any financial misconduct or personal gain from the organization's funds.
Campbell's spokesperson conveyed to The Guardian that despite the acknowledgment of limited engagement, there was no evidence of financial impropriety on her part. The spokesperson emphasized that Campbell never received any payments for her role with Fashion for Relief and did not charge any personal expenses to the charity.
Fashion For Relief, established by Campbell in 2005 with the goal of raising funds for humanitarian causes through runway shows, faced removal from the UK's charity list earlier this year. A recent inquiry by the Charity Commission highlighted various instances of misconduct and mismanagement within the organization, leading to Campbell and two others being banned from trusteeship.
The regulator's investigation revealed that only a small fraction (8.5%) of Fashion for Relief's expenditures from 2016 to 2022 were allocated to charitable grants. Furthermore, unauthorized payments totaling £290,000 ($388,000) were made to a trustee, while funds were also utilized for luxuries like room service, spa treatments, and cigarettes. Campbell's commitment to the charity's mission remains unaltered despite the challenges faced by Fashion for Relief.