British supermodel Naomi Campbell has been barred from serving as a charity trustee in the United Kingdom after a watchdog investigation uncovered improper use of charitable funds. The UK Charity Commission, the regulatory body responsible for overseeing charities in England and Wales, handed Campbell a five-year ban following a probe into financial irregularities at her charity.
The investigation, which spanned three years, revealed that a significant portion of the charity’s funds was spent on luxury expenses unrelated to its charitable purpose. Among these were stays at high-end hotels, spa treatments, and even cigarette purchases. Shockingly, only 8.5% of the charity’s total expenditure over a six-year period—beginning in 2016—was used for charitable grants, according to the commission’s findings.
In response to the investigation’s conclusions, Campbell expressed her surprise and concern, stating that she had only just learned of the findings. “I wasn’t in control of my charity,” she told the Associated Press (AP) in a recent interview. “I put the control in the hands of a legal employer.”
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The Charity Commission’s report has raised concerns over the management of charity funds, stressing the importance of transparency and proper oversight when handling charitable donations. The body reiterated that trustees have a legal duty to ensure that funds are used for the benefit of the charity’s cause, and mismanagement—intentional or not—can lead to serious consequences, including bans such as the one imposed on Campbell.
While the findings have placed Naomi Campbell under scrutiny, they also highlight a broader issue within the charity sector: the need for stricter governance to prevent funds from being diverted for personal or luxurious use. For now, the supermodel faces a five-year restriction from holding any trustee roles within the UK charity system, as the commission continues to emphasize the necessity of accountability in charitable operations.
