Cancer Research UK may refuse to accept more donations from the estate of alleged sex predator Mohamed Al Fayed.
Bosses at Britain’s biggest cancer charity are reviewing their relationship with the disgraced billionaire’s foundation following the more than 150 women that have now come forward with allegations against him.
The charity – which is backed by the King – is one of a string of good causes to have taken thousands of pounds since Channel 4‘s Dispatches first published sex claims against the ex-Harrods chief in 2017 at the height of the MeToo scandal.
But there has been a rethink following the BBC‘s damning exposé on Thursday as more details of the horrific nature of the behaviour levelled against him have come to light – and the claims that his company helped cover up his attacks.
Since 2017 Cancer Research UK has taken £45,500 and took money as recently as 2022, but it now says it is ‘shocked’ by the rape claims in this week’s BBC programme Al-Fayed: Predator At Harrods.
Late billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed has been described as ‘a monster’ amid claims he raped multiple women working for him at Harrods
Cancer Research UK may refuse to accept more donations from the Al-Fayed Charitable Foundation after a slew of allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed have come to light
Five women have said they were raped by the Harrods tycoon, who died last year aged 94, and a further 20 female employees allege he sexually assaulted them.
However more women have begun to tell their stories publicly and on Saturday a legal team representing accusers said they have had over 150 new enquiries since the airing of the documentary.
So horrific was the alleged abuse suffered at the hands of Al-Fayed, that lawyers representing his victims have compared him to sexual predators Jimmy Savile and Jeffrey Epstein.
Lawyers warned the true extent of Al-Fayed’s alleged offending could go further, ‘with victims all over the world’ – with investigations now taking place into other businesses owned by Al-Fayed, such as Fulham Football Club.
Further claims were levelled at Harrods today, including a claims Harrods was plagued by a ‘toxic’ culture under Al-Fayed’s 25 years in charge, as the wealthy businessman ‘preyed upon… his own employees for his own sexual gratification’ and tried to ‘silence’ his vulnerable victims.
Al-Fayed had brushed shoulders with British high society for years. His son Dodi was killed in a car crash in France with Princess Diana in 1997.
Cancer Research UK is among a series of charities which have accepted cash from the Al-Fayed Charitable Foundation (ACF) recently. The charity got £5,000 in 2022, £14,000 in 2019, £11,500 in 2018 and £15,000 in 2017, according to the Mirror.
The paper also claims that the baby hospice charity Zoe’s Place – which counts Al Fayed’s daughter, Camilla, as an ambassador – has accepted over half a million pounds from Al Fayed’s foundation since 2017.
The charity got £90,000 in 2022, 2019, 2018 and 2017, as well as £82,500 in 2021 and £97,500 in 2020.
Meanwhile, the Imperial Health Charity was given £50,000 in 2019. World Animal Protection – whose mission is to stop animal cruelty and suffering – was handed £10,000 in 2022, 2021, 2019, 2017 and £5,000 in 2018.
The Al Fayed Charitable Foundation (ACF) says it has been bettering the lives of impoverished, traumatised and very sick children for more than 30 years
Mohamed Al-Fayed (pictured) founded the AlFayed Charitable Foundation in 1987 and the charity says it supports a range of specialist children’s causes via regular donations and the provision of specialist medical equipment, play and living essentials
Harrods (pictured) was an alleged hunting ground for Al-Fayed who targeted ‘vulnerable’ women before sexually assaulting them
Al-Fayed has been compared to sexual predators Jimmy Savile (left) and Jeffrey Epstein (right)
One of Mohamed Al-Fayed’s alleged victims, who went by the name Natacha (pictured), told a press conference on Friday the billionaire businessman was ‘highly manipulative’.
Mohamed Al-Fayed pictured alongside Diana, Princess of Wales, at a charity event held at Harrods in London in 1996
The Al Fayed Charitable Foundation (ACF) says it has been bettering the lives of impoverished, traumatised and very sick children for more than 30 years.
It was founded in 1987 by Mohamed Al Fayed and the charity supports a range of specialist children’s causes via regular donations and the provision of specialist medical equipment, play and living essentials.
It also focuses on raising awareness and support for many children’s hospices, hospitals and other children’s charities.
Today, the ACF is embracing new initiatives led by Trustee Camilla Al Fayed, Mr Al Fayed’s youngest daughter.
Cancer Research UK said in a statement: ‘We are shocked by the allegations made against Mohammed Al Fayed. We have received donations from the Al-Fayed Charitable Foundation in the past which have been spent to fund research into cancer.
Today, the ACF is embracing new initiatives led by Trustee Camilla Al Fayed, Mr Al Fayed’s youngest daughter. Pictured: Mohamed Al-Fayed and Camilla Al Fayed attend the Issa show at London Fashion Week in 2014
Camilla Al-Fayed has been working with ACF since 2006. Pictured at Claridges Hotel on July 24, 2013 in London
‘We consider donations very carefully and accept in line with our policies and regulation in order to fund our mission to beat cancer.
‘We take allegations of this nature very seriously, and will review our position regarding accepting any future donations from the Al-Fayed Charitable Foundation.’
Adam Stricker-Morecroft, Interim UK Country Director at World Animal Protection, said: ‘World Animal Protection did not have a direct relationship with Mohamed Al-Fayed.
‘The donations referenced here were made from a Family trust. Our relationship is with another member of the family who is an extremely passionate supporter of wildlife, to help animals such as those suffering in the Brazil wildfires.
‘In light of the disturbing allegations, we will monitor the situation and our decisions will take into account Charity Commission Guidance on such matters.’
An Imperial Health Charity spokesperson: ‘We received a one off donation from the Al-Fayed Foundation in 2019 to fund research. We have no further plans to apply for or receive money from the Foundation.’