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A former Abercrombie & Fitch model, David Bradberry, has filed a class-action lawsuit accusing the company's former CEO, Michael Jeffries, of running a sex-trafficking operation. According to the lawsuit, Bradberry and over 100 other male models were allegedly subjected to pressure to engage in sex acts, drugging, and sexual abuse at the hands of Jeffries in their pursuit of modeling careers with the brand.
The suit outlines a disturbing scheme orchestrated by Jeffries, where modeling scouts would search for attractive young men interested in modeling for Abercrombie. If deemed promising, the models were sent to casting sessions at Jeffries and Smith's residence where they were allegedly sexually abused. The lawsuit also alleges that these young men were then sent to various locations, including New York, Morocco, England, and France, to be further subjected to abuse by Jeffries and other men.
Bradberry identified one of the scouts as James Jacobson, who, according to him, pressured models to perform sex acts to secure work with Abercrombie. Additionally, Bradberry recounted an incident where Jeffries drugged and sexually assaulted him over a decade ago, as detailed in a BBC report.
The lawsuit claims that Abercrombie & Fitch was complicit in Jeffries and Smith's actions, stating that the company was aware of, endorsed, and facilitated their use of the Abercrombie brand to sexually abuse young men. The models were reportedly coerced into signing non-disclosure agreements before being taken to private locations where they were allegedly drugged and forced into engaging in sex acts with Jeffries, Smith, and others.
Jeffries, who was brought in by then-owner Leslie Wexner to rebrand Abercrombie & Fitch, left the company in 2014 amid declining sales and controversies over racist and sexist practices. Previous discrimination lawsuits involving minority employees and offensive slogans on clothing have also marred the brand's reputation.
The lawsuit further alleges that not only did Abercrombie know about Jeffries' conduct, but the company rewarded him handsomely, with his compensation reportedly reaching $71.8 million in 2008. It claims that Abercrombie protected Jeffries, even hiding a video within the company depicting him engaging in illicit activities.
The plaintiffs, including Bradberry, accuse Jeffries, Smith, the Jeffries Family Office, and Abercrombie & Fitch of violating several laws related to trafficking, victim protection, and gender-motivated violence. They seek certification of the suit and unspecified monetary damages.
While Abercrombie & Fitch has not responded to requests for comment following these recent allegations, the company had previously released a statement disavowing knowledge of the reported misconduct by Jeffries. The statement emphasized a cultural transformation within the organization and reiterated a commitment to a values-driven approach with zero tolerance for abuse, harassment, or discrimination of any kind.
This lawsuit sheds a disturbing light on the alleged exploitation within the fashion industry and raises questions about accountability, corporate culture, and the treatment of aspiring models. Abercrombie & Fitch's turbulent history, including prior legal challenges, provides a backdrop to the severe accusations against its former CEO and the company's response to the unfolding scandal.
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