Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Faces Over 40 Abuse Allegations

More than 40 men have come forward to testify against former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, who is facing growing accusations of sexual assault, coercion, and drugging. Attorneys have disclosed that these allegations go back decades, to the time Jeffries joined the corporation in the 1990s. A&F staff were among the alleged victims, while models who were promised possibilities with the fashion firm were among the others. Currently under house arrest, Jeffries was accused of sex trafficking in October. In addition to him, criminal charges have been brought against his colleague, Matthew Smith, and their suspected collaborator, James Jacobson. They might be sentenced to life in prison if found guilty. Although Jeffries has refuted every accusation, civil cases against him and Abercrombie & Fitch are still being filed.

The negligence lawsuit against Abercrombie & Fitch alleges that the firm willfully permitted Jeffries’ wrongdoing. Although the business, which also owns Hollister, has not yet addressed the most recent charges, it has previously expressed its “appalled and disgusted” response to the disclosures. Victims’ attorneys contend that A&F did not shield models and staff from the alleged mistreatment. Renowned civil trial lawyer Brad Edwards is suing Jeffries on behalf of 26 people who want class-action status. He thinks there may be more than 100 victims in reality. Jared Scotto, another lawyer, is assisting more than a dozen men, some of whom worked directly for Abercrombie & Fitch.

According to recent lawsuits in New York, Jeffries allegedly forced two men, Brandon Steele and Joseph Sterling, into ingesting narcotics, and then raped them. Before being sexually assaulted, the two males, who were in their late teens and early twenties at the time, claim they were seduced with promises of modeling jobs. According to several alleged victims, they were given A&F apparel, invited to “Abercrombie-themed” events, and subsequently attacked. According to one case, Jeffries and his accomplice coerced straight males into having sex with them. Two former models say they were attacked during an A&F casting call in 2011 at a hotel in Miami.

According to one of the plaintiffs, Jeffries approached him and offered him an A&F campaign and $6,000 in exchange for sex. He claims that Jeffries sexually abused him after he refused. According to the lawsuit, before letting Jeffries go, his supervisors attempted to coerce him into signing a non-disclosure agreement. Although there are already 15 victims listed by federal prosecutors in their criminal case, they are still looking into possible witnesses, so the number may increase. Jeffries’ legal fees in both criminal and civil lawsuits, which are anticipated to total millions of dollars, must be paid by A&F.

Smith, Jacobson, and Jeffries have all entered not guilty pleas. Jacobson, who was instrumental in recruiting young men, insists he was not aware of any abuse or coercion. Despite denouncing Jeffries’ purported behavior, A&F maintains that it was unaware of the wrongdoing until the BBC’s 2023 investigation. The corporation stopped Jeffries’ $1 million yearly retirement benefits and opened an independent investigation after the controversy. A&F asserts that company has a strong zero-tolerance policy against harassment and abuse and that its leadership has subsequently changed. More victims are anticipated to come forward as the legal struggle progresses, providing insight into what lawyers characterize as a pervasive and systemic network of abuse inside the former leadership of Abercrombie & Fitch.

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Source: BBC