abercrombie and fitch is in the midst of a major resurgence, but the company is still plagued by allegations of wrongdoing by former CEO Mike Jeffries.
The company was accused Friday of turning a blind eye to Mr. Jeffries’ alleged misconduct, according to court records. He is accused of running a large-scale sex trafficking ring that exploited young men who wanted to become models for brands.
Jeffries is also named as a defendant in the suit, which alleges that she sexually abused numerous men under the guise of winning coveted modeling contracts.
it will happen in just a few weeks BBC releases survey results Jeffries and Abercrombie, who made similar accusations.
In response, a company spokesperson told CNBC that the company does not comment on pending litigation. However, after the BBC article was published, the company said it was “appalled and disgusted” by Jeffreys’ behavior. It said it had contacted an external law firm to carry out an independent investigation into the issues raised by the BBC.
“The company’s current leadership team and board of directors were not aware of any allegations of sexual misconduct by Mr. Jeffries,” the company said at the time.
“For nearly a decade, with a new leadership team and a refreshed Board of Directors, we have successfully transformed our brand and culture into the values-based organization we are today. We do not tolerate any form of harassment or discrimination.”
Jeffries’ attorney, Brian Bieber, did not deny the allegations in an interview with CNBC.
“Jeffries has similarly chosen not to comment on past litigation and will not comment in the press on this new litigation,” Bieber said in an email. ” he said.
David Bradbury, who filed the lawsuit, claims he was scouted for a modeling job in 2010 and introduced to him by a scout who said he was working on behalf of a brand.
“He then told David Bradbury that he held the key to the next level of Abercrombie’s process, and that unless he had the scout perform oral sex on him, Bradbury would not allow Abercrombie or its CEO Michael. “He made it clear that he had no intention of meeting with Jeffries,” the lawsuit says, filed in Manhattan federal court.
Bradberry was then assaulted and paid by the scout, the complaint states.
Shortly after, Bradbury was invited to a casting event at Jeffrey’s house in the Hamptons, but since it included a meeting with the CEO, Bradbury thought it was a “legitimate Abercrombie-sponsored event.” They were forced to wear clothes from the same brand. Status of litigation.
But instead of a professional casting event, Bradberry was immediately raped by Jeffries and forced to take poppers, a type of drug that causes dizziness, the lawsuit says.
“During the disturbance caused by the poppers, David Bradbury began to notice four older, large, and physically strong men who appeared to be security guards who were observing activity inside the room,” the complaint states. claims.
“Because of these imposing men in Abercrombie clothes, Bradbury felt unable to safely leave the room or resist Jeffries’ demands.”
After the incident, Bradberry was flown to Nice, France, where she was again forced to perform sex acts on Jeffries, the complaint states.
The lawsuit, which seeks class action status, alleges similar events happened to more than 100 other victims and that Abercrombie allowed it to happen.
Jeffries was president of the bankrupt women’s retail chain Alcott & Andrews, but in 1992 she was selected by former Abercrombie owner Leslie Wexner to become CEO of the brand and revived it. Ta.
During his tenure, Abercrombie became one of the most prominent companies in the retail industry, known for sexually charged advertisements and shirtless male models frequently placed outside the brand’s stores.
The company saw steady growth in earnings and sales during that time, but its success was soon overshadowed by accusations of discrimination against employees and claims that the company’s clothes were only worn by attractive people. .
In 2004, Abercrombie paid $40 million to settle a class action lawsuit that accused the company of discriminating against black, Hispanic, and Asian employees. In 2012, the company settled a lawsuit brought by a former pilot who accused the airline of age discrimination.
After its heyday in the mid-2000s, Abercrombie developed a reputation for racism, a reputation for being exclusive to certain types of people, and a clothing brand that had lost relevance among American consumers. Ta.
Mr. Jeffries left the company in 2014, and Abercrombie subsequently rebranded as an inclusive retailer under CEO Fran Horowitz, who became the company’s chief executive in 2017.
Abercrombie recently surprised Wall Street with better-than-expected revenue and profits, opening new stores even as other retailers closed and the economic outlook remained uncertain.
The company’s stock price has more than doubled this year.
