The BBC has confirmed Abercrombie & Fitch ex-CEO Mike Jeffries and his accomplice Matthew Smith are the topic of a Panorama particular.
The community introduced an hour-long episode would air Monday October 2 final week, with no particulars on what the documentary would cowl.
The particular, which is now accessible on BBC iPlayer, is titled The Abercrombie Guys: The Dark Side Of Cool and investigates numerous allegations of exploitation and abuse from males towards the style mogul.
In the documentary, it’s claimed Jeffries and Smith used a “intermediary” named James Jacobson and different “recruiters” to seek out younger males for intercourse occasions they hosted around the globe between 2009 and 2015.
Eight males mentioned their alleged recruitment for the occasions within the documentary, with the bulk claiming Jacobson sexually “auditioned” them by requesting or performing oral intercourse earlier than being launched to Jeffries or Smith.
Half the alleged victims claimed they had been initially misled concerning the nature of the occasions or not informed intercourse was concerned. Others mentioned they knew the occasions can be sexual, however had been allegedly unaware of what was anticipated of them. All besides one mentioned they felt harmed by the expertise. Those who attended the occasions had been all paid afterwards.
Several of the alleged victims claimed Jacobson and different recruiters raised the opportunity of modelling alternatives with Abercrombie & Fitch in the event that they attended the occasions.
While Jeffries and Smith haven’t responded to the allegations, a consultant for Jacobson denied any wrongdoing and mentioned he didn’t recall making guarantees of modelling alternatives.
“Any encounter I had was totally consensual, not coercive,” an announcement by means of his lawyer mentioned (by way of the BBC). “Everyone I got here into contact with who attended these occasions went in with their eyes extensive open.”
Jeffries stepped down as CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch in 2014 following declining gross sales. His time as CEO was the topic of Netflix documentary White Hot: The Rise & Fall Of Abercrombie & Fitch, which coated the corporate’s ascent and controversies, together with a 2003 class-action lawsuit over alleged racial discrimination in its hiring insurance policies.
In response to the allegations towards Jeffries, Abercrombie & Fitch mentioned it was “appalled and disgusted” by the alleged behaviour and that new management has turned the corporate into “the values-driven organisation we’re at the moment”.
