Luxury store Harrods has apologised following claims that former owner Mohamed Al Fayed raped and sexually assaulted multiple former female staff members. The famous department store in Knightsbridge, London, issued its statement amid harrowing allegations that Fayed abused staff after he took over Harrods in 1985. Fayed carved out a reputation as an eccentric businessman and appeared on multiple TV shows in the 90s and 00s.
Fayed died in August last year, aged 94. Harrods was sold to the Qatar Investment Authority in May, 2010. But away from the limelight Fayed was described as a "monster" who preyed on female employees.
According to the accounts of more than 20 women for a BBC investigation, the sexual assaults happened in London, Paris, St Tropez and Abu Dhabi. Harrod's statement In a statement, a Harrods spokesperson said: "We are utterly appalled by the allegations of abuse perpetrated by Mohamed Al Fayed. These were the actions of an individual who was intent on abusing his power wherever he operated and we condemn them in the strongest terms.
“We also acknowledge that during this time as a business we failed our employees who were his victims, and for this we sincerely apologise. The Harrods of today is a very different organisation to the one owned and controlled by Al Fayed between 1985 and 2010, it is one that seeks to put the welfare of our employees at the heart of everything we do. “This is why, since new information came to light in 2023 about historic alleg.