Naomi Campbell Called Unfit to Run Charity in Appeal Hearing
Naomi Campbell was found to be unfit to manage a charity after the supermodel "completely abdicated" her trustee responsibilities at Fashion for Relief, the Charity Commission stated during a tribunal hearing.
The Charity Commission informed the tribunal that Campbell, who is appealing a ban on running a charity, was "highly culpable" for mismanagement and misuse of funds at Fashion for Relief, the charity she established in 2015 which has since been dissolved.
The commission indicated that Campbell demonstrated an "absence of the competence that could be expected" from a trustee by delegating oversight of the charity to another trustee and failing to properly engage with the charity’s affairs.
Representatives for Campbell disputed the commission’s allegations, asserting that the watchdog had targeted her as a "high-profile scalp." They argued that Campbell was a victim of fraud, had made an honest mistake, and did not personally benefit from the charity.
Fashion for Relief, which raised millions of pounds for anti-poverty initiatives through events hosted by Campbell, was wound up in March 2024 after commission-appointed managers found it insolvent.
The commission’s report on Fashion for Relief, published six months later, revealed poor financial management, misconduct, and disorganized record-keeping, including failure to retain receipts or minutes of meetings and decisions.
In one case, the charity incurred thousands of pounds in charges for Campbell’s use of luxury hotel rooms, flights, spa treatments, and cigarettes. Although the charity raised £4.8 million over five years, partner organizations such as Save the Children and the Mayor’s Fund for London received only 10% of the proceeds.
Campbell’s Defense and Allegations of Fraud
In contesting the disqualification, Campbell’s legal team told the tribunal she was the victim of an elaborate deception by fellow trustee Bianka Hellmich, who allegedly forged documents and emails and kept Campbell unaware of the charity’s financial status.
Campbell had relied in good faith on Hellmich, then a trusted friend and adviser, to manage financial and business matters, unaware of what the commission later identified as misuse of charity funds and poor governance.
Campbell did not act dishonestly, lacked integrity, or derive personal benefit, her lawyer Andrew Westwood KC told the tribunal on Thursday. Her "misplaced reliance" on Hellmich was a mistake but an honest one, and disqualifying someone who was a fraud victim was not in the public interest.
Westwood stated Campbell delegated responsibilities to Hellmich, believing she "possessed the necessary expertise, skill and prudence to manage the financial, legal and regulatory aspects of the charity," allowing Campbell to serve in a figurehead capacity.
Charity Commission’s Position and Tribunal Proceedings
Faisel Sadiq, representing the commission, argued Campbell failed in her trustee duty to actively supervise the charity’s operations. "That she [Campbell] is busy and lives in America does not entitle her to be treated differently," he said.
Sadiq described Campbell, who gave evidence on Tuesday, as "an entirely unreliable witness" who, while not "actively dishonest," "said a number of things that simply were not true" during her testimony. He said her focus was on "controlling the media narrative" rather than "honesty and accuracy."
According to Sadiq, Campbell showed no remorse or insight into her failings. "Her go-to was to blame others," he said. He concluded she was and remains unfit to serve as a charity trustee.
Westwood dismissed Sadiq’s "hyperbolic assertions" about Campbell’s conduct. He claimed the commission’s inquiry was flawed but that it had "got its high-profile scalp" in Campbell and was "determined to hang on to it at any cost."
Findings on Bianka Hellmich and Other Trustees
The commission’s inquiry found Hellmich received £316,000 in unauthorized fees and travel expenses from the charity over two years. She has since repaid this amount. Hellmich was contacted for comment and previously told there was "absolutely no truth" to Campbell’s claims.
The forgery and fraud allegations against Hellmich have been referred to the police by both Campbell’s team and the commission, the tribunal heard.
Hellmich and a third trustee, Veronica Chou, were banned by the commission from holding trustee positions for nine and four years respectively. Neither has appealed their disqualifications.
