Abercrombie & Fitch Faces Lawsuit Alleging Funding of CEO’s Abhorring Operations

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In a legal development that has sent shockwaves through the fashion industry, Abercrombie & Fitch is now entangled in a lawsuit that alleges the company financially supported the sex trafficking operations orchestrated by its former CEO, Mike Jeffries. The complaint, filed in the Southern District of New York under the New York Adult Survivors Act, allows for legal action without exceeding a statute of limitations and seeks class-action status.

The lawsuit, brought forth by former model David Bradberry on behalf of himself and others, contends that Abercrombie & Fitch served as the “financial lifeblood for a sex trafficking organization” led by Jeffries during his lengthy tenure as CEO from 1992 to 2014. Disturbingly, it accuses Jeffries and his partner, Matthew Smith, who was not an Abercrombie & Fitch employee, of sexual misconduct and rape.

The legal action claims that Jeffries utilized company resources extensively, including a private jet, various modes of transportation, and substantial amounts of cash, to perpetuate his sex trafficking activities and recruit male victims. The lawsuit paints a damning picture of Abercrombie & Fitch’s alleged complicity, asserting that the company demonstrated unwavering loyalty to Jeffries, even in the face of red flags pointing to criminal behaviour in his corporate account activity.

Abercrombie & Fitch’s alleged indifference to warning signs is underscored in the legal documents, which state that the company was more focused on profit and showed absolute loyalty to Jeffries. It accuses the company of spending considerable sums on extravagant drug and sex parties, turning a blind eye to indications of criminality.

The disturbing allegations extend to a video purportedly circulating within Abercrombie & Fitch’s offices, showing Jeffries engaging in illicit activities. The legal documents specifically mention a video where Jeffries is alleged to be “sniffing what was believed to be cocaine off a man’s penis.”

This lawsuit comes on the heels of a BBC investigative film titled “The Abercrombie Guys: The Dark Side of Cool,” which delves into allegations of abuse within the company. The parallels with other cases in the industry, such as the connections between former Victoria’s Secret CEO Leslie Wexner and Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal enterprise, underscore the broader implications of such allegations in the fashion world.

Abercrombie & Fitch, once known for its exclusive, homogenous, and hyper-sexualized marketing under Jeffries, underwent a significant rebranding effort to distance itself from its controversial past. Jeffries stepped down from his position in 2014 amid investor calls for his dismissal.

A representative for Abercrombie & Fitch has declined to comment on the pending litigation. Similarly, a lawyer for Jeffries has refrained from offering statements on the allegations.

As this legal saga unfolds, the fashion industry watches closely, awaiting the resolution of a case that could have far-reaching implications for corporate accountability and responsibility.