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Ex-Abercrombie boss is said to have sexually exploited men
October 3, 2023, 3:47 p.m
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The US fashion group Abercrombie & Fitch has become known, among other things, for its offensive advertising. BBC research now suggests: Long-time boss Jeffries and his partner sexually harassed young men. The couple is said to have used a middleman for this.
Several men accuse the ex-head of the US fashion group Abercrombie & Fitch, Michael “Mike” Jeffries, and his partner of sexually exploiting them at events. According to BBC research, the couple used a middleman to find young men for themselves. Eight men told the BBC that they had taken part in such events. Some told the station that they had been exploited or mistreated. No legal steps have been taken yet. Jeffries and his partner did not comment when contacted by the BBC.
The company, which also sells the Hollister brand and previously scored points with, among other things, offensive advertising, said in a statement that it was “horrified and disgusted”. Jeffries left the group in 2014. The now 79-year-old had created a controversial image in the past with statements that he only wanted “cool, good-looking people” as customers.
The couple’s alleged “facilitator” denied the allegations. The men involved knew what they were getting into, he told the BBC. The station also reported that after reviewing documents and statements, two former U.S. prosecutors are calling for an investigation to determine whether sex trafficking charges can be filed. Under U.S. law, sex trafficking occurs when an adult is coerced into traveling to another state or country to have sex in exchange for money.
Abercrombie & Fitch, founded in 1892, has long been a popular brand among students in the USA. The brand’s reputation has recently fallen significantly among teenagers and young people in North America. The clothing from large chains such as H&M and Zara is considered more fashionable and easier to combine and is also cheaper.
The company has been selling its clothing in Europe since 2007, and in Germany there are stores in Düsseldorf, Hamburg and Munich. Abercrombie & Fitch has 836 stores in the USA and 161 in the rest of the world. Subsidiary brands include Hollister and Gilly Hicks.