The supermodel said the Charity Commision had agreed to revisit her case following the discovery of ‘disturbing and shocking’ new information
Naomi Campbell has broken her silence as she challenges her charity trustee ban
AP
Tina Campbell1 minute ago
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Naomi Campbell has spoken for the first time since announcing that she is set to appeal against her ban on being a charity trustee, having claimed a fake email was used to impersonate her.
The supermodel, 54, took to Instagram on Thursday to share an emotive statement in which she opened up about the “immense personal toll” that this whole ordeal has taken on her.
South London-born Campbell said the Charity Commission had agreed to revisit her case following the discovery of what she described as “disturbing and shocking” new information.
The catwalk star went on to thank those who had supported her throughout and vowed to come out stronger.
She also stated her intention to become an “advocate for greater protection against online identity theft”, which she described as “a devastating crime that can happen to anyone”.
Her full statement read: “I’m happy to share that I’ve won permission to appeal the Charity Commission’s ruling from last fall.
“Ever since the Commission’s report, which was based on incomplete and inaccurate information, I have been fighting to uncover the facts. The discoveries have been so disturbing and shocking that the Commission has agreed to revisit the case.
“The personal toll of this ordeal has been immense. My team and I have watched years of humanitarian work being questioned while working tirelessly to uncover the truth. Yet through it all, we’ve emerged stronger and our supporters have stood by us. Your trust means everything!
“Moving forward, I will advocate for greater protection against online identity theft – a devastating crime that can happen to anyone. They say what doesn’t break you makes you stronger, and I’m certainly feeling much stronger!”
It was revealed last year that Campbell had been disqualified from being a charity trustee for five years after a watchdog found serious mismanagement of funds at Fashion for Relief, which she founded.
This included using charity funds to pay for her stay at a five-star hotel in Cannes, France, as well as spa treatments, room service and cigarettes.
Campbell was one of three of the charity’s trustees to be disqualified as a result of the probe by the Charity Commission, which regulates charities in England and Wales.
At the time, she said she was “extremely concerned” by the regulator’s findings, adding that she was “not in control of my charity” having “put the control in the hands of a lawyer”.
Her case is now due to come before a tribunal on Friday, and Campbell said she wants to “ensure that those responsible are held accountable and justice is done”.
Representatives for the model claim that documents submitted to the commission gave a false impression of her involvement in running the UK charity, with evidence of a fake email account which they said was used to impersonate Campbell in communications with lawyers.
They said she was therefore not made aware of the allegations being made in the watchdog’s inquiry and did not have the opportunity to answer them.
