‘Vile’: Multiple women accuse ex-Harrods owner of rape
Women have told broadcaster BBC their claims of rape and assault by billionaire Mohamed al Fayed. Photo: Getty
Women who worked at Harrods have accused Mohamed Al Fayed, the Egyptian billionaire who owned the luxury London department store for more than 25 years, of rape and sexual assault.
More than 20 former staff have come forward with allegations of assault and physical violence at properties in London and Paris as part of a special BBC investigation.
Five women alleged they had been raped by Al Fayed, the broadcaster reported.
Al Fayed, who died in 2023, was the father of Dodi Al Fayed who was killed in a car crash alongside Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997.
Embracing his status, Al Fayed had rubbed shoulders with celebrities, the wealthy and royalty, including the late Queen Elizabeth.
Mohamed Al Fayed (right) with Princess Diana, who died alongside his son Dodi in a car crash. Photo: Getty
Al Fayed had previously been accused of sexually assaulting and groping multiple women, but a 2015 police investigation led to no charges.
Harrods’ current owners said they were “utterly appalled” by the allegations of abuse, adding: “As a business we failed our employees who were his victims and for this we sincerely apologise.”
— Harrods (@Harrods) September 19, 2024
“These were the actions of an individual who was intent on abusing his power wherever he operated and we condemn them in the strongest terms,” the statement said.
“We also acknowledge that during this time as a business we failed our employees who were his victims, and for this we sincerely apologise.
“The Harrods of today is a very different organisation to the one owned and controlled by Al Fayed between 1985 and 2010, it is one that seeks to put the welfare of our employees at the heart of everything we do.”
In July 2023, Harrods began settling claims with women who came forward.
Rachel, not her real name, told the BBC she was raped after staying at one of Al Fayed’s apartments overlooking Hyde Park after a late shift at work.
Rachel said Al Fayed asked her to sit on his bed and then put his hand on her leg, making it clear what he wanted, writes the BBC.
“I made it obvious that I didn’t want that to happen. I did not give consent. I just wanted it to be over,” she said.
“I remember feeling his body on me, the weight of him. Just hearing him make these noises. And just going somewhere else in my head.
“He raped me.”
One former employee says Mohamed Al Fayed was ‘vile’. Photo: AAP
Al Fayed was featured in the two most recent seasons of royal drama The Crown on Netflix.
“That makes me angry, people shouldn’t remember him like that. It’s not how he was,” said Sophia, who worked as Al Fayed’s personal assistant from 1988 to 1991.
“He was vile.”
Sophia told the BBC she was sexually assaulted and described it as an inescapable nightmare.
“I couldn’t leave. I didn’t have a [family] home to go back to, I had to pay rent,” she said.
“I knew I had to go through this and I didn’t want to. It was horrible and my head was scrambled.”
The billionaire rubbed shoulders with royalty, including the late Queen Elizabeth. Photo: Getty
Harrods said that since new information came to light in 2023 about historic allegations of sexual abuse by Al Fayed, it had been its priority to settle claims in the quickest way possible to avoid lengthy legal proceedings for the women involved.
“While we cannot undo the past, we have been determined to do the right thing as an organisation, driven by the values we hold today, while ensuring that such behaviour can never be repeated in the future,” the company said.
-with AAP
