Sixty-five additional women have recently stepped forward with allegations of abuse against the late billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed. These new claims have surfaced following a documentary aired by a prominent UK news outlet, which featured testimonies from women who accused Al Fayed of sexual assault and rape.
The allegations span back to 1977 in Dubai, predating Al Fayed's acquisition of the prestigious London department store, Harrods, by eight years. Notably, 37 of the women who shared their accounts of abuse had been employed at Harrods.
Earlier investigations revealed that over 20 former female employees of Harrods had accused Al Fayed, who passed away last year at the age of 94, of sexual misconduct. Shockingly, one victim claimed she was assaulted at the age of 15 by Al Fayed when he was 79.
Harrods publicly acknowledged Al Fayed's abuse of power and issued an apology to the victims, expressing deep dismay over the allegations. The reported assaults allegedly took place at various locations, including Al Fayed's luxury properties in London and the Ritz hotel in Paris, which he owned.
The recent wave of allegations includes accounts of manipulation and exploitation, with some women stating they were deceived into working as nannies, chefs, or maids at Al Fayed's residences only to be subjected to sexual abuse. One victim recounted being held against her will and repeatedly assaulted at Al Fayed's mansion in Surrey, England.
In response to the mounting allegations, Harrods revealed that new information had come to light last year regarding historic sexual abuse by Al Fayed. The company emphasized its commitment to swiftly resolving claims to avoid prolonged legal proceedings for the affected women, offering a settlement process for current and former Harrods employees.
Harrods issued a follow-up statement addressing the latest allegations, disclosing that since 2023, the company has settled numerous claims related to historic sexual misconduct by Al Fayed. Following the documentary's broadcast, over 200 individuals have engaged in the settlement process with Harrods to address their claims directly with the business.
