Bianca Gascoigne alleges Mohamed al-Fayed sexually assaulted her as teen at Harrods
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Bianca Gascoigne has claimed that Mohamed al-Fayed manipulated and sexually abused her when she was a teenager employed at Harrods.
The British model, daughter of ex-England footballer Paul Gascoigne, recently joined the list of well-known personalities sharing her encounters with the Egyptian businessman. She described how the "charismatic" Fayed would present her and her parents with gifts during her visits to the upscale department store in central London when she was a child.
The 37-year-old expressed that by the time she started her job at the Knightsbridge store at 16, she felt a sense of "security" when she was around him.
She alleged that Fayed, who passed away last year at the age of 94, would touch her inappropriately and make her kiss him during their regular meetings, which left her feeling cornered and scared.
In her first public account of the experience, Ms. Gascoigne recounted to Sky News an instance when Fayed suggested she stay at the Harrods Park Lane apartment before her flight.
She remarked, "I was completely taken aback when [Fayed] showed up at my apartment. I couldn't believe it and was in a daze, unsure of how to react."
He walked in and then had me sit on the couch. He exposed himself and tried to guide my hands to touch him.
"When that approach failed, he attempted to push my head down onto his lap."
"I'm not sure how it happened, but I somehow managed to slip away."
"I believe you might be aware that his familiarity with my parents could have been what saved me at that time. Still, it was a truly dreadful experience."
Fayed has been confronted with allegations of inappropriate behavior for many years.
Following a BBC investigation published last month, the Metropolitan Police announced that 60 individuals have reached out to share their encounters involving Fayed. This number comes on top of the 21 women who had earlier accused the businessman of various offenses, including rape and sexual assault, occurring from 2005 to 2023.
On Monday, Harrods announced that over 250 individuals are involved in their efforts to resolve compensation claims related to purported past sexual misconduct by Fayed. The department store also mentioned that it has "resolved several claims with women" concerning its former owner since the previous year.
Ms. Gascoigne, who rose to the position of fashion buyer at Harrods after starting as a sales assistant, spoke about the "embarrassment" that stopped her from sharing what she was experiencing.
"Clearly, I was passionate about my work since it aligned perfectly with my aspirations - it was my ultimate dream," she shared with the reporter.
“He’s been doing all these things to me, and since I was close to some of his friends, I felt trapped. I didn’t want to share what was happening because I was afraid it would cause embarrassment and shame for everyone involved.”
The model expressed her worry back then about the possibility of losing her job if she spoke out about her experience.
"[Fayed] warned me that if I spoke out, I'd be fired," she explained. "I was terrified. At 16, almost 17, you feel like you understand everything, but in reality, you don’t."
When I think about my 16-year-old self, I can’t help but feel a lot of compassion for her and wish I could keep her safe.
Nonetheless, Ms. Gascoigne, who recently welcomed a baby girl, has chosen to share her story after witnessing the other claimed victims of Fayed step forward.
She expressed, "I have this strong urge to take action, and I genuinely want to make a difference. I aim to advocate for women and, ideally, bring about changes that will ensure my daughter won't have to experience anything like this in the future. I want to hold those who exploit others accountable so they can no longer evade justice."
Ms. Gascoigne is the most recent notable individual to share her experiences with Fayed.
Ex-Fulham Ladies captain Ronnie Gibbons recently stated that she was sexually assaulted twice by a businessman, alleging that Fayed attacked her in an office at Harrods in Knightsbridge.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood shared with Sky News her deep concern over the disturbing allegations, stating, "It's truly alarming to hear so many women, at various points in their lives, bravely stepping forward to share their accounts of severe mistreatment by their employers."
I believe that all the organizations that Mohammed Al Fayed led or was part of should address questions regarding their actions, their knowledge, and their reactions.
"I believe that apologies are definitely appreciated at this point, but there are still some important questions that need to be addressed regarding past events."
The Independent has reached out to Harrods for their response.
In an earlier announcement, the department store expressed its deep shock at the allegations of misconduct involving Mohamed Al Fayed. They described his behavior as that of someone who was determined to misuse his authority in any situation and strongly denounced his actions. Furthermore, they recognized that his victims were let down during this period and offered a heartfelt apology for this.
Today's Harrods is quite different from the one that Al Fayed owned and operated from 1985 to 2010. Our organization is now focused on prioritizing the well-being of our employees in everything we do. That's why, following new information revealed in 2023 regarding past allegations of sexual abuse by Al Fayed, we have made it our mission to resolve any claims quickly and efficiently, steering clear of extended legal battles for the women affected. This program remains open to all current and former employees of Harrods.
"Although we can't change what has already happened, we are committed to doing the right thing as an organization. Our actions are guided by the values we embrace today, and we are focused on making sure that we never repeat similar behavior in the future."
