British supermodel Naomi Campbell claims to have uncovered “shocking” facts as she fights against her ban on being a charity trustee – including that an email address was used to impersonate her in conversations with lawyers.
The 54-year-old was one of three people disqualified from being a trustee of Fashion For Relief – a charity she founded in 2005 to help raise money for humanitarian causes – last year.
Her removal came as a result of a probe carried out by the Charity Commission that found just a small proportion of the charity’s money went to actual good causes.
The misconduct included the use of charity funds to pay for Campbell‘s stay at a five-star hotel in Cannes, France, as well as spa treatments, room service and cigarettes.
Fashion For Relief was dissolved and removed from the register of charities last year.
Trustees said at the time that hotel costs were typically covered by a donor to the charity, therefore not costing the charity itself, but failed to provide any evidence to support this.
Campbell said she was “extremely concerned” by the regulator’s findings, adding that she was “not in control” having “put the control in the hands of a lawyer”.
Her case is now due before a tribunal, after Campbell’s representatives claim documents that were submitted to the commission gave a false impression of her involvement in running the UK charity.
The model also submitted evidence of a fake email account, which she said was used to impersonate her in communications with lawyers.
She said she was therefore not made aware of the allegations being made in the Charity Commission’s inquiry and did not have the opportunity to answer them.
“I am grateful to the tribunal for allowing me to appeal the Charity Commission’s findings after considering the evidence I have submitted,” Campbell said in a statement.
“Ever since the commission’s report, I have fought to uncover the facts. What has been unearthed so far is shocking.
“I want to shine a light on how easy it is to fake identities online and prevent anybody else going through what I have been through.
“I want to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and justice is done.”
The model also said that she will have more to say in due course, adding: “I have never undertaken philanthropic work for personal gain, nor will I ever do so.”
She also posted a statement on her Instagram page, in which she said the personal toll of the case has been “immense”.
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The Charity Commission said back in September it had recovered £344,000 and a further £98,000 of charitable funds had been protected.
The regulator’s inquiry found that, between April 2016 and July 2022, just 8.5% of the charity’s overall expenditure was on charitable grants.
It also found no evidence that trustees took action to ensure fundraising methods were in the charity’s best interests, or that the money it spent was reasonably relative to the income it generated.
A Charity Commission spokesman said: “These are significant allegations for the courts to consider, and we will continue to cooperate fully with the tribunal as it does so.”
