Former Abercrombie & Fitch models are suing the company, alleging that the retailer allowed CEO Mike Jeffries to operate a sex-trafficking ring.
Abercrombie & Fitch is facing a class action lawsuit with dozens of men as plaintiffs. They allege that the company’s former CEO was apart of a sex trafficking scheme that spanned a decade. The complaint accuses Jeffries of taking advantage of attractive young men who hope to become Abercrombie models.
Additionally, the 21-count lawsuit accuses Abercrombie & Fitch of being aware of the abuse but choosing to ignore it. The legal action also claims that Jeffries withdrew substantial amounts of money from corporate accounts to compensate victims.
The lawsuit follows BBC’s report, which featured claims from eight men who stated that Jeffries exploited them sexually. According to the individuals, they were recruited by a middleman who’s apart of a network of recruiters. In return, the individuals reportedly received payments ranging from $500 to $1,000 for each referral they brought into the operation.
Shortly after, Abercrombie & Fitch initiated an internal investigation into the allegations.
“The company’s current executive leadership team and board of directors were not aware of the allegations of sexual misconduct by Mr. Jeffries,” the retailer said earlier this month. “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. We have zero tolerance for abuse, harassment or discrimination of any kind.”
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