Mohamed Al Fayed was 'a monster enabled by' Harrods, says lawyer

According to a lawyer representing his accusers, Mohamed Al Fayed, the ex-owner of Harrods, was a "monster" supported by a system deeply embedded within the London store.

During a press conference in London on Friday, lawyers representing numerous women revealed that the late owner of Harrods was characterized as a "sexual predator" who harassed employees and used intimidation tactics over a span of 25 years.

Dean Armstrong KC stated that it was important for Harrods to "acknowledge their responsibility" following allegations against Fayed, including rape, that emerged in a BBC investigation this week.

Harrods expressed that it is "deeply shocked" by the accusations and has strongly denounced his behavior.

During the press conference, around 20 survivors were seated at the front. At moments, they nodded along in agreement, while at other times, they shook their heads as they absorbed the often bleak and troubling allegations made against Fayed.

Some women felt too intimidated to attend the event.

Natacha opened up about her experiences working for Fayed at the age of 19. She mentioned that she's choosing to share her story now for the benefit of her daughters and nieces.

She characterized Fayed as "intelligent and crafty," someone who took advantage of those who were most defenseless.

Natacha alleged that Fayed coerced her into a kiss, had her sit on his lap to "examine" her body, and at one point, assaulted her in his personal apartment.

He intimidated her by claiming he knew the whereabouts of her and her family and warned her that if she ever talked about her experience, she would "never work in London again."

During the press conference, it was revealed that many women employed by him underwent invasive medical examinations, such as comprehensive cervical screenings and evaluations of their ovaries.

They either didn't receive information about the test results or had to endure what Fayed referred to as "demeaning and embarrassing remarks" regarding those results.

Natacha told the press that she thought the medical tests were meant to assess their sexual "innocence."

During the press conference, there were reports regarding allegations of widespread monitoring inside Harrods and suggestions that phone lines had been tapped.

Mr. Armstrong described Fayed's behavior as "a pattern of mistreatment."

Regarding Harrods, he stated: "They bear complete responsibility for the mistreatment that these women experienced."

He said, "It's time for them to take accountability and make things right."

Survivors continue to experience nightmares, along with feelings of depression and anxiety, as reported by journalists.

After the BBC investigation, Harrods admitted that during Fayed's ownership, "as a company, we let down our employees who were affected, and we truly apologize for this."

Today’s Harrods is a far cry from the store managed by Al Fayed from 1985 to 2010. The current organization prioritizes the well-being of its employees in all aspects of its operations.

The new owners of the department store have created a compensation program for former employees who claim they were assaulted by Fayed. This initiative is distinct from the legal actions that some of the accusers are pursuing.

Since 2023, Harrods has successfully resolved financial agreements with most individuals who contacted them, and they received additional inquiries just this week.

Harrods is taking responsibility for Fayed's actions, and the settlements come with no confidentiality agreements.

It stated: "Given the recent revelations in 2023 regarding past accusations of sexual abuse by Al Fayed, our main goal has been to resolve these claims as quickly as we can, steering clear of extended legal battles for the women affected."

It noted that, although it couldn't change what had already occurred, it was committed to preventing similar actions in the future.

During the press conference, Mr. Armstrong stated that it was "absolutely not correct" for Harrods to claim that it didn't know about the allegations until 2023.

US attorney Gloria Allred, known for her involvement in numerous prominent sexual abuse cases, remarked, "Beneath the shiny exterior of Harrods lies a harmful, unsafe, and abusive atmosphere."

"There was a fundamental issue at Harrods," she remarked. "Merely apologizing isn't sufficient for them."

In an interview with BBC News following the conference, Ms. Allred expressed that it is "high time" for Harrods to "take action."

"At this point, we’re looking for action rather than just promises," she stated.

During the press conference, the attorneys were questioned about whether they knew of any accusations regarding Fayed's other business ventures, specifically concerning Fulham FC and the Ritz Paris hotel.

Barrister Maria Mulla stated that they are advocating for women who worked at the Ritz, but they are not representing anyone connected to Fulham.

Fulham FC released a statement expressing their serious concern and distress regarding the troubling accounts that emerged after yesterday’s documentary. They conveyed genuine sympathy for the women who have come forward with their stories.

"We are currently working to determine if anyone at the club has been impacted, either now or in the past."

The BBC has inquired with the Ritz Paris hotel, purchased by Fayed in 1979, about whether it has ever offered any compensation to current or former staff regarding claims of sexual assault or rape.

The hotel did not clarify whether it provided any compensation, but released a statement expressing that it "firmly disapproves of any behavior that goes against the values of the establishment."

At the press conference, when the lawyers representing some of the accusers were questioned about why they hadn't initiated legal action against Fayed's estate, they responded that they were keeping all options open.

Mr. Armstrong mentioned that they are currently working on acquiring "a lot more" clients beyond the 37 they already manage.

Following the release of the BBC investigation, additional women have stepped forward to allege that Fayed has assaulted them.

In a statement following the press conference, Mr. Armstrong mentioned that approximately 100 women have reached out to his team since the release of the BBC documentary.

This involves a woman referred to as Melanie by the BBC, who claimed that Fayed sexually assaulted her at his apartment on Park Lane.

She mentioned that he urged her to come back for another visit, and then he touched her inappropriately and made some really unpleasant remarks.

Previous employees have shared with the BBC that he frequently walked around the sales areas searching for young female assistants to elevate to positions in his office.