In a stunning turn of events, over 400 alleged victims have come forward accusing the late Mohamed Al Fayed, former owner of the iconic London department store Harrods, of sexual abuse and harassment. The sheer scale of the claims has sent shockwaves through the retail industry and prompted survivors to call for a boycott of the luxury shopping destination.
“A Store That Enabled Rape and Abuse”
At a recent press conference held by the Justice for Harrods Survivors group, three courageous women who suffered abuse at the hands of Al Fayed shared their harrowing stories. Holding tote bags emblazoned with the Harrods logo crossed out, they delivered a powerful message:
“Harrods is a store that enabled the rape and sexual abuse of so many young and innocent women … We don’t think that people should be shopping there. We think they should be going elsewhere.”
Lindsay*, Harrods abuse survivor
The group’s lawyers revealed the staggering scope of the allegations against Al Fayed, with victims hailing from the UK, Canada, Asia, Australia, America, and Europe. Bruce Drummond KC described it as “industrial scale abuse” that could have only been perpetrated with a system that enabled it.
Questioning Harrods’ Response
Survivors and their advocates have raised serious concerns about the independence and efficacy of Harrods’ internal investigation into Al Fayed’s behavior during his tenure as chairman. Barrister Maria Mulla questioned who designed and is leading the ongoing review, and whether anyone employed during Al Fayed’s time recused themselves from the process.
The group confirmed that four of Fayed’s victims withdrew from a settlement scheme set up by Harrods due to concerns over a consultant managing it who had been employed at the store during Fayed’s chairmanship. This has cast further doubt on the store’s commitment to justice and accountability.
A Web of Enablers
Lawyers for the survivors hinted at a vast network of individuals who enabled Fayed’s alleged sexual misconduct, though they refrained from naming names at this stage. Dean Armstrong KC noted that many victims who sought help from the police were met with inaction, eroding their trust in the authorities.
One survivor, Jen*, recounted being threatened by Harrods’ former head of security after she assisted with a Vanity Fair article exposing Fayed’s abuse:
“I was contacted by John Mcnamara, who asked me to think very carefully about my involvement … and reminded me that he knew where I lived and he knew where my parents lived … It’s that kind of terror that kept us all so quiet for so long.”
Jen*, Harrods abuse survivor
A Call for Accountability
As the number of alleged victims continues to climb, survivors and advocates are demanding real accountability from Harrods. The first of potentially hundreds of legal claims has already been filed against the store, with many more expected to follow.
Keaton Stone, a journalist whose wife was assaulted by Fayed, accused Harrods of “inaction” in supporting survivors and argued that a boycott is the bare minimum people can do to show solidarity. For the victims, the trauma and pain endures long after their abuse:
“It’s horrifying and incredibly sad – we thought there were only a few of us that went through this, and we’re realizing it’s hundreds and hundreds of women over a 25- to 30-year period.”
Jen*, Harrods abuse survivor
As this devastating scandal continues to unfold, all eyes are on Harrods to see how it will respond to the growing calls for justice, accountability, and change. For the survivors of Mohamed Al Fayed’s alleged reign of abuse, the road ahead is long, but their voices are finally being heard.
*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of abuse survivors.
