Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO accused of exploiting young men for sex

Mike Jeffries, who stepped down as CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch in 2014, is considered by the company its modern-day founder. Photograph: David Pomponio/Getty Images

Mike Jeffries, the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, has been accused of exploiting young men for sex at events he and his partner hosted in the US and around the world, according to a BBC investigation1. The investigation found that Jeffries and his partner, Matthew Smith, recruited young men for events that involved sex acts, with some of the men alleging that they were misled about the nature of the events or were not told sex was expected1. Jeffries has denied the allegations, and Abercrombie & Fitch has said it is "appalled and disgusted" by the alleged behavior2.

The allegations against Jeffries come amid a period of change for Abercrombie & Fitch, which has faced criticism over racism and other forms of bias on the platform6. The company has rolled out several new anti-discrimination measures, including a new mechanism for filing bias-related complaints6. The incident highlights the need for effective measures to address issues of exploitation and abuse, particularly in the fashion industry.

Key facts:

  • Mike Jeffries, the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, has been accused of exploiting young men for sex at events he and his partner hosted in the US and around the world, according to a BBC investigation1.
  • The investigation found that Jeffries and his partner, Matthew Smith, recruited young men for events that involved sex acts, with some of the men alleging that they were misled about the nature of the events or were not told sex was expected1.
  • Jeffries has denied the allegations, and Abercrombie & Fitch has said it is "appalled and disgusted" by the alleged behavior2.
  • The incident highlights the need for effective measures to address issues of exploitation and abuse, particularly in the fashion industry.