Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) said it is looking into claims made against its former CEO.
Mike Jeffries has been accused of exploiting men at sex gatherings throughout the world that he organised.
An investigation by the BBC discovered that an organized network utilized an intermediary to recruit young adult males for the activities with Mr Jeffries and his companion Matthew Smith, with some alleging abuse.
Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith did not return calls seeking comment.
A&F, which has approximately 850 stores globally, including the Hollister brand, said it had hired a “outside law firm to conduct an independent investigation” into the accusations after being approached by the BBC. It was “appalled and disgusted” by the alleged behavior, it added.
Mr Jeffries has previously been hailed as the company’s modern-day creator, having converted the brand from a faltering heritage outfitter in the 1990s to a multibillion-dollar adolescent store. According to corporate records at the time, he stepped down in 2014 due to dwindling sales and departed with a retirement package of roughly $25 million (£20.5 million).
A&F stated that it was “not aware of the allegations of sexual misconduct” and that the company’s new leadership had converted it into “the values-driven organization we are today.”
The BBC revealed claims that Mr Jeffries abused men for sex at gatherings he threw in his New York mansions and luxury hotels throughout the world, including London, Paris, Venice, and Marrakesh, in a two-year investigation released on Monday.
Between 2009 and 2015, twelve men recounted attending or organizing gatherings including sex acts for the fashion magnate, 79, and his British companion, Mr Smith, 60.
The eight guys who attended the parties said they were recruited by a middleman wearing a snakeskin patch covering a missing nose. James Jacobson, according to the BBC, is who he is.
Half of the men who spoke to the BBC about their recruitment claimed they were first mislead about the nature of the activities or were not informed that sex was involved. Others claimed they knew the festivities would be sexual, but they weren’t sure what to anticipate. Everyone was compensated.
Mr Jacobson denied any misconduct and stated that men entered the gatherings “with their eyes wide open.”
This tale contains explicit descriptions of sexual actions.
According to those who attended these gatherings, Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith would engage in sexual activity with roughly four guys – or “direct” them to have sex with each other. Following that, the men said that event employees handed them envelopes containing thousands of dollars in cash.
David Bradberry, then 23, said he was introduced to Mr Jacobson in 2010 by an agency who identified him as the gatekeeper to “the owners” of A&F but made no mention of sex. He stated that during their discussion, Mr Jacobson proposed that Bruce Weber, then A&F’s official photographer, take his picture.
Following that, Mr. Bradberry stated: “Jim made it clear to me that unless I let him perform oral sex on me, that I would not be meeting with Abercrombie & Fitch or Mike Jeffries.” He described himself as being “paralyzed.”
In retrospect, he says this should have been a “red flag,” but he assumed Mr Jacobson was “just a creepy old dude that I wouldn’t have to see again.”
Mr Bradberry later accepted an offer to a midday function at Mr Jeffries’ previous Hamptons property, which recently sold for $29 million on New York’s Long Island. He stated that while there, he discussed his desire to be an A&F model with Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith. Mr Jeffries then allegedly put “poppers” under his nose – a substance that may create a powerful head rush and dizziness – and then had intercourse with him, according to him.
Barrett Pall, another male, stated that he felt compelled to attend an event in the Hamptons in 2011. He was 22 at the time and said he was approached by an older model, who received a referral fee, to be his “replacement” for “some sort of sexual experience” with the couple. He stated that he consented because the older model had financially supported him and that he felt obligated to him.
Mr Pall claims the older model informed him that “you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do,” but that “the further you go, the better” and hinted at employment options. He admitted to feeling under pressure to “perform” when he arrived to the event. Mr Pall said that Mr Jeffries was touching him behind him at one point.”This experience, I think it broke me,” he stated. “I believe this took away any semblance of innocence I had left.” It screwed with my head. But now that I speak the language, I can tell you that I was taken advantage of.”
According to the BBC, the greatest event was held in a private villa at a five-star hotel in 2011, for which dozens of men were transported to Marrakesh. According to the BBC, Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith had also invited acquaintances. Alex, who asked that his name be altered to protect his identity, claimed he was a struggling model supporting his family back home when he was hired as a dancer for the event, where he anticipated to be stripped naked.
Alex, a straight male in his twenties at the time, said Mr Jacobson auditioned him and commended his dancing but requested he “finish the job” by performing oral sex on him. “I had debt, I wanted to support my family,” Alex stated. “I performed the job and I was, like, disgusted.”
Alex travelled to Marrakesh for the event a few weeks later, thinking “the hardest part was over.” But, he claimed, Mr Jeffries tried to kiss him during his dance. “I was trying not to offend him by being there.” “I was extremely uneasy,” Alex said.
He eventually stated he went to hide in a back room and fell asleep. Alex claimed he awoke with a condom inside him and suspected the champagne he had been served earlier had been tainted.
“When I put the pieces together, I believe there’s a very good chance I was drugged and raped.” “I’ll probably never, ever know for sure what happened,” he remarked.
A civil lawyer, who examined the BBC’s evidence, said US prosecutors should investigate whether what these “brave men” describe could be sex trafficking. Under US law, sex trafficking includes getting an adult to travel to another state or country to have sex for money by using force, fraud or coercion.
“There may have been evidence of coercion for some of the men, whereas others might not have felt the coercive tactics,” Brad Edwards said.
He also stated that Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith may claim that the men were consenting adults and that the fact that some had previously engaged in commercial sex was “a factor,” but that past activities were “really irrelevant” to whether a specific commercial sex act was the result of force, fraud, or coercion.
“Given the stories of these brave men who have come forward, I think it’s very important that federal prosecutors look into this case,” Mr Edwards said, noting that prosecutors have a “very high” standard of proof.
He also stated that Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith may claim that the men were consenting adults and that the fact that some had previously engaged in commercial sex was “a factor,” but that past activities were “really irrelevant” to whether a specific commercial sex act was the result of force, fraud, or coercion.
“Given the stories of these brave men who have come forward, I think it’s very important that federal prosecutors look into this case,” Mr Edwards said, noting that prosecutors have a “very high” standard of proof.
Over several weeks, the BBC attempted to contact Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith by letter, email, and phone, requesting them to reply to a thorough list of claims to verify they were not false.
