Renowned supermodel Naomi Campbell is appealing a five-year ban from being a charity trustee, saying that someone used a fake email to impersonate her and create a false impression of her involvement.
In September 2024, the UK Charity Commission banned the 54-year-old after finding that money from Fashion for Relief, the charity she founded, was mismanaged. The investigation revealed that funds were spent on luxury hotels, spa treatments, cigarettes, and security.
BBC in their latest report has revealed that Campbell’s team’s argument is that some documents in the investigation misrepresented her role. They claim a fake email account was used in conversations with lawyers, which meant Campbell did not know about the accusations or have a chance to respond.
When the report was published, Campbell said she was deeply concerned and insisted she was not in control of the charity’s finances. Ahead of her tribunal hearing on February 7, she said she is determined to uncover the truth.
“I have worked hard to find out what really happened, and the facts are shocking,” she said. “I want to show how easy it is for people to fake identities online and make sure the right people are held responsible.”
Campbell was one of three trustees banned, along with Bianka Hellmich (banned for nine years) and Veronica Chou (banned for four years).
The Charity Commission started investigating Fashion for Relief in 2021 and removed it from the charity register in March 2024. The inquiry found that between April 2016 and July 2022, only 8.5% of the money raised went to actual charity work. However, £344,000 has been recovered, and another £98,000 has been secured.
Fashion for Relief was created to help people in poverty and support health and education projects by giving grants and aid for global disasters.
Now, as Campbell fights to clear her name, she hopes to prove what really happened and ensure justice is done.
