Supermodel Naomi Campbell told a tribunal on Tuesday that she was 'deceived' and asked for 'respectful' questions as she appealed a five-year ban from being a charity trustee. The 56-year-old was disqualified in 2024 after the Charity Commission found serious mismanagement at Fashion For Relief, a charity she founded.
Allegations of Mismanagement
The Charity Commission investigation revealed that charity funds were used to pay for Campbell's stay at a five-star hotel in Cannes, France, as well as spa treatments, room service, and cigarettes. Campbell was one of three trustees disqualified, alongside Bianka Hellmich, who was banned for nine years, and Veronica Chou, who received a four-year ban.
Campbell's Defense
During the tribunal in central London, Campbell argued that her only mistake was trusting Hellmich, whom she alleges forged her signature and misrepresented her credentials as a charity lawyer. Campbell stated, 'I did not do a check on Bianca Hellmich – when I’m introduced to a lawyer, I assume they are acting within the law.' She rejected suggestions that she should have verified Hellmich's background, saying Hellmich 'came across as a lawyer' and worked in 'official positions.'
Campbell emphasized, 'I don’t look at it as a failure, I look at it as me trusting someone that I knew, someone that was a lawyer.'
Exchanges at the Tribunal
Judge Joe Neville intervened during cross-examination by Faisel Sadiq, representing the Charity Commission. Campbell said, 'I’m here because I have been deceived, you are here because you have been deceived, so let’s both be respectful to each other.' After several interruptions, Sadiq requested that Campbell answer his questions. Judge Neville later cautioned Sadiq for being 'unnecessarily challenging.'
Campbell expressed frustration, stating that some questions felt like accusations and that Sadiq was 'not retaining' her answers. She said, 'I feel that some of them are not questions, some of them are accusations and those I will not take.'
Background of Fashion For Relief
Campbell told the tribunal that Fashion For Relief was established in 2005 in the US and had no issues before becoming a registered charity in the UK. She denied suggestions that she engaged in charity work for publicity, stating, 'I’m already famous enough.'
In written submissions, Andrew Westwood KC, representing Campbell, argued that Hellmich 'held herself out as a lawyer' and advised Campbell to act as a figurehead while Hellmich handled regulatory and financial functions. Westwood claimed that Hellmich 'carried out a long-term and consistent scheme of mismanagement and deception.'
Conversely, Sadiq argued that Campbell could not 'abdicate' her responsibilities as a trustee. He questioned, 'Had you actually been doing your job then you would have been able to, had you been viewing the finances, you would have been able to see that Ms Hellmich is helping herself to large sums of money.' Campbell replied, 'How could I see? I am across the Atlantic, how could I see? Again she is a lawyer and I trusted her.'
Further Proceedings
Campbell accused the Charity Commission of failing to check Hellmich's credentials, saying, 'I’m one person, I don’t have a management team, the Charity Commission is a Government body, did you do your due diligence? No.' The tribunal heard that the forgery and fraud allegations against Hellmich have been referred to the police by both Campbell's team and the Charity Commission.
Campbell completed her evidence on Tuesday afternoon, with other witnesses scheduled to testify on Wednesday.
