Harrods is in the process of handling over 250 compensation claims from women who allege inappropriate sexual behavior by former owner Mohamed Al Fayed, the luxury store confirmed to the BBC, according to Digi24.
20 Woman Come Foward in Documentary
The claims have emerged in the weeks following the release of a BBC documentary that exposed decades of serious sexual abuse allegations against the late billionaire.
Al Fayed, who owned Harrods between 1985 and 2010, passed away last year at the age of 94.
The documentary, titled Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods, featured the testimonies of more than 20 former female employees of the department store. The women described various incidents of sexual abuse during Al Fayed's ownership.
Many of the alleged victims said they were unable to speak out at the time, fearing repercussions due to Al Fayed’s high profile and connections with influential figures, including politicians and celebrities.
Current Owners Apologize
Harrods, under its current ownership, has expressed shock and horror at the allegations. A store representative said they were "deeply sorry" for the harm done to the women and admitted that Harrods had previously settled a number of complaints related to these incidents.
They are also investigating whether any current employees were involved in facilitating the alleged abuses during Al Fayed's tenure.
In response to the claims, Harrods has implemented a compensation program for former employees who allege they were abused by Al Fayed. In addition, several former employees have filed lawsuits against the store, with legal teams representing 147 women in total.
However, it remains unclear if there is any overlap between those pursuing compensation through Harrods and those involved in legal action.
The documentary revealed that during Al Fayed’s time as owner, Harrods not only failed to intervene in the alleged abuses but also played a role in covering up accusations. The store’s new owners have apologized to the victims and pledged to do more to address past failures.
