A recent BBC documentary titled “al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods” has made serious allegations against the late Egyptian billionaire Mohamed al-Fayed, asserting that he raped and sexually abused numerous women during his time as the owner of the luxury department store Harrods.
The documentary claims that al-Fayed raped five women and sexually abused at least 15 others while they were employed at Harrods. Al-Fayed, who passed away last year at the age of 94, sold Harrods to Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund in 2010.
Victims reported that the alleged abuses occurred in various locations, including London, Paris, Saint-Tropez, and Abu Dhabi. One woman recounted being raped as a teenager in al-Fayed’s apartment, describing him as a “monster” and a “sexual predator.” Three other women corroborated her account, stating they were also raped in the same apartment.
Another victim revealed that she was raped at al-Fayed’s Villa Windsor apartment in Paris, where he forced her to wash herself with disinfectant afterward, indicating a desire to erase any evidence of his presence.
The documentary’s producers noted that many women felt compelled to speak out after witnessing al-Fayed’s portrayal in the Netflix series “The Crown,” which features his son Dodi and his relationship with Princess Diana.
In response to the allegations, Harrods issued a statement expressing their horror and condemning al-Fayed’s actions, stating, “We are utterly appalled by the allegations of abuse perpetrated by Mohamed al-Fayed.” The statement acknowledged that the organization had failed its employees at the time and offered a sincere apology.
Harrods emphasized that it is now a very different organization focused on the welfare of its employees, pledging to address the claims quickly since the new information surfaced in 2023. They affirmed their commitment to ensuring such behavior is never repeated in the future.
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