Harrods Apologizes to Former Owner Mohamed Al-Fayed’s Victims

Harrods, a renowned London luxury department store chain, has issued a formal apology to the victims of its former owner, Mohamed Al-Fayed, who faced allegations of rape and sexual abuse by multiple former female employees.

A recent BBC documentary and podcast revealed that over 20 former female employees testified against Al-Fayed, who passed away last year at the age of 94, alleging that he sexually assaulted them in incidents that took place in London, Saint-Tropez, and Abu Dhabi.

One of the victims, who accused Al-Fayed of rape as a teenager, described him as a “monster” who “always instills fear.”

Failure to Act

According to the BBC documentary, Harrods failed to take action during Al-Fayed’s ownership of the company between 1985 and 2010 and helped to cover up the allegations.

Harrods acknowledged its failure, stating, “We are appalled by the alleged assault by Mohammed Al-Fayed, an action taken by a man who clearly intended to exploit his influence.”

The company added, “We also recognize that we have failed victims during this time, and for this, we offer our sincere apologies,” noting that the chain of stores is now a “completely different entity” that was owned and controlled by Al-Fayed.

Previous Allegations

Several media outlets, including Vanity Fair magazine in 1995, ITV in 1997, and Channel 4 in 2017, have published allegations of sexual abuse against Al-Fayed in the past.

It was only after Al-Fayed’s death last year that many women found the courage to speak out about their experiences.

Resolving Legal Claims

Harrods has stated that it is committed to resolving the claims as quickly as possible to avoid a lengthy legal process for the women involved.

Any current or former Harrods employee can initiate these procedures.

Mohamed Al-Fayed’s Background

Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Mohamed Al-Fayed began his career selling soft drinks and then sewing machines, eventually building his family’s fortune in real estate, shipping, and construction in the Middle East and Europe.

He spent ten years trying to prove that the car crash that killed Princess Diana and her son Dodi in a Paris tunnel in 1997 was intentional, despite the investigation indicating no evidence to support his claim.