Naomi Campbell's Fashion for Relief Faces Scrutiny After Unicef Partnership Controversy

 

Naomi Campbell's Fashion for Relief charity is under investigation following a serious incident report filed with the Charity Commission, revealing claims of misrepresentation in its partnership with Unicef. The report surfaced after Fashion for Relief hosted a high-profile fashion show and charity auction at the British Museum in 2019, where it claimed to be raising funds for both Unicef and the Mayor’s Fund for London.

However, Unicef UK has stated it was never a partner of Fashion for Relief and was unaware of the event, which raised significant funds. The charity emphasized that it did not receive any proceeds from the fundraiser. In response, Unicef submitted a serious incident report to the Charity Commission in 2022, expressing concerns that the Unicef brand was used without authorization, potentially misleading donors.

Additionally, Unicef has sought clarification on why Campbell was referred to as a "Unicef envoy" during an official meeting with then Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson in 2018, noting that she has never held any formal role with the charity.

The Charity Commission recently imposed a five-year ban on Campbell from running a charity after uncovering financial misconduct and mismanagement within Fashion for Relief. According to the commission's report, the charity raised nearly £4.8 million over five years but allocated only 10% of its expenditures—around £460,000—to partner charities. The inquiry revealed that Campbell charged expenses such as hotel stays, flights, and spa treatments to the charity, which were deemed inappropriate.

In response to the findings, Campbell criticized the report as "flawed" and "incomplete," asserting that she has never engaged in philanthropic work for personal gain.

Unicef UK reiterated its commitment to fundraising compliance, stating, “We have never held any official partnership with Fashion for Relief and we have never received any funds from the 2019 event.”

When asked why Fashion for Relief had promoted fundraising for Unicef without its agreement, a spokesperson for Campbell stated, “Naomi Campbell never held herself out as a representative of Unicef although she worked with them.”

During the 2019 event, Fashion for Relief's promotional materials prominently featured the Unicef logo and claimed that funds raised would support Unicef’s efforts to protect and improve the lives of children globally.

The Mayor’s Fund for London received £100,000 from the event, but it later reported a serious incident to the commission when a promised £50,000 from a subsequent Fashion for Relief pop-up shop fundraiser did not materialize.

Additionally, Save the Children threatened legal action against Fashion for Relief in 2019 over owed funds from two previous fundraising events. It was only in December 2023, as Campbell's charity was winding down, that Save the Children and the Mayor’s Fund for London received a total of £250,000.

In 2018, Unicef engaged in preliminary discussions regarding a potential partnership with Fashion for Relief but ultimately decided against it, highlighting the necessity for formal agreements to govern the use of its name and logo.

Charities are obligated to file serious incident reports to the Charity Commission when they experience adverse events that could harm beneficiaries, result in financial loss, or damage the charity's reputation. Unicef is currently in communication with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to clarify the circumstances surrounding Campbell's designation as a "women's empowerment envoy." A spokesperson for Campbell noted uncertainty regarding the government's reference to her as an envoy.