Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries and his British partner, Matthew Smith, have been at the center of outrage over the last several months as new allegations point to the exploitation of young men during events across the globe. An investigation by the BBC exposed that allegedly recruited men for such events, bringing up concerns about exploitation and possible sex trafficking. Testimonies in that two-year investigation included testimony from multiple men who outlined their experiences at events Jeffries and Smith hosted. Some of those men have gone further to accuse them of coercion or deception, claims that under U.S. sex trafficking laws may envelop an element of criminality.
Exploitation and Abuse during Events
Eight men who attended events for Jeffries told the BBC they were recruited by a middleman named James Jacobson. They said they were taken to events run by Jeffries in New York, and also to luxury hotels in London, Paris, Venice, and Marrakesh. The men say they were exploited or abused at the events, which were often secret, and involved sex acts. Jacobson denied any impropriety, saying the men went into these events "with their eyes wide open." Jeffries and Smith could not be reached for comments despite repeated requests as both men remain silent amidst growing scrutiny.
Legal Experts Call for Investigation
Two former US prosecutors who independently reviewed the BBC's findings called for an investigation into whether charges of sex trafficking could be brought. Under US law, sex trafficking is defined as forcing, deceiving, or coercing adults to cross state or national borders to engage in commercial sex. If the men who attended these events were deceived and exploited, an argument could be made that there are grounds for such charges.
Abercrombie & Fitch's Response and Jeffries' Controversial History
Abercrombie & Fitch have since backpedaled from the comments, calling them "appalled and disgusted" by the behavior described in the BBC report. The company, which also owns Hollister, is trying to navigate the fallout from Jeffries' tarnished reputation, though he has had no direct ties with A&F since stepping down as CEO in 2014.
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