Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries is facing allegations of sexually exploiting young men as part of a “highly [organized] network.”
According to a BBC News investigation, Jeffries and his partner, Matthew Smith, are accused of organizing sex events through a middleman.
On Monday, BBC News published an article that featured eight men who claimed they attended the alleged sex events and experienced exploitation or abuse.
“We are appalled and disgusted by the behavior described in the allegations against Mr. Jeffries, whose employment with Abercrombie & Fitch Co. ended in 2014, nearly ten years ago. Speaking up and coming forward is not easy, and our thoughts are with those who bravely raised their voices,” said an Abercrombie & Fitch spokesperson.
“Since being contacted by the BBC, we have engaged an outside law firm to conduct an independent investigation into the issues raised. The company’s current executive leadership team and board of directors were not aware of the allegations of sexual misconduct by Mr. Jeffries,” the statement continued.
“For close to a decade, a new executive leadership team and refreshed board of directors have successfully transformed our brands and culture into the values-driven organization we are today,” they added. “We have zero tolerance for abuse, harassment, or discrimination of any kind.”
Mike Jeffries and Matthew Smith may face sex trafficking charges as two former U.S. prosecutors are reviewing the case for possible prosecution.
David Bradberry, who recounted the events, was 23 years old in 2010 when he met someone named James Jacobson, who was said to be a middleman for Jeffries and Smith.
“Jim made it clear to me that unless I let him perform oral sex on me, that I would not be meeting with Abercrombie & Fitch or Mike Jeffries,” recalled Bradberry, an aspiring model at the time.
Bradberry later claimed he attended a Hamptons party at Jeffries’ former home where drugs and a sexual encounter with the ex-CEO took place. Barrett Pall, a former model turned life coach and activist, also claimed to have attended one of Jeffries’ Hamptons events.
“This experience, I think it broke me,” he said. “I think that this stole any ounce of innocence that I had left. It mentally messed me up. But with the language I now have today, I can sit here and tell you that I was taken advantage of.”
In April 2022, Netflix released a documentary titled “White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch,” highlighting controversies related to the brand’s exclusive marketing, discriminatory hiring practices, and allegations of racism.
