The former owner of Harrods, the famous English deparment store, selling fashion, food and homewarem has been accused of rape and sexual assault by over 20 former female employees. These allegations surfaced after the former owner, Mohamed Al Fayed's death, with five women claiming they were raped by the billionaire while working at the luxury London retailer.
One of the accusers described him as a 'sexual predator' who treated staff as his playthings, instilling fear and control over his employees. The BBC's documentary Al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods revealed incidents allegedly occurring in various locations, including London, St Tropez, Abu Dhabi, and Paris.
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Harrods' current owners expressed deep shock and condemnation of Al Fayed's actions, acknowledging that the company failed to protect its employees during his tenure from 1985 to 2010. Prioritizing the victims' well-being. In a statement, they apologized for not addressing these abuses sooner and outlined efforts made since 2023 to settle claims.
The retailer emphasized that today's Harrods is vastly different from when Al Fayed controlled it, with a focus on employee welfare. Harrods remains committed to ensuring no such behaviour occurs in the future, offering a process for any former or current employees to settle claims quickly.
Source: www.retailgazette.co.uk