Late Mohamed Al-Fayed, ex-Harrods Owner Whose Son Died Alongside Princess Diana, Accused of Multiple Rapes

Mar. 15, 2025

Mohamed Al-Fayed, whose sonEmad El-Din “Dodi” Mohamed Fayedwaskilled in a 1997 Paris car crashalongsidePrincess Diana, has been accused of multiple rapes.

The BBC revealed on Thursday, Sept. 19 that it had heard testimonies from more than 20 former female staff members who claim the Egyptian businessman sexually assaulted them, with the incidents allegedly taking place in London, St. Tropez, Abu Dhabi and Paris.

The allegations will also be laid out in a BBC documentary airing Thursday, Sept. 19, titledAl Fayed: Predator at Harrods. The documentary will reportedly reveal evidence that alleges Harrods failed to intervene and helped cover up abuse allegations during Al-Fayed’s ownership.

Mohamed Al-Fayed.Danny Martindale/WireImage

Danny Martindale/WireImage

“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,” the statement added. “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 then-Prince Charles with Princess Diana and Mohamed Al-Fayed in 1987.Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty

Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty

Mohamed Al-Fayed.Jeff Overs/BBC News & Current Affairs via Getty

Jeff Overs/BBC News & Current Affairs via Getty

According to the BBC, one woman alleges that Al-Fayed raped her at his London apartment. “I made it obvious that I didn’t want that to happen. I did not give consent. I just wanted it to be over,” she told the outlet.

Another woman also claims she was raped at the apartment in upmarket Mayfair when she was a teenager. “We were all so scared. He actively cultivated fear,” she told the BBC. “If he said ‘jump’ employees would ask ‘how high.’ ”

A woman named Sophia, who worked as the billionaire’s personal assistant from 1988 to 1991, also alleges he tried to rape her more than once and that she was sexually assaulted. “I couldn’t leave. I didn’t have a [family] home to go back to, I had to pay rent,” she told the outlet. “I knew I had to go through this and I didn’t want to.”

Another of his personal assistants, Gemma, who worked for Al-Fayed from 2007 to 2009, claims he raped her at Villa Windsor in Paris, a former home of King Edward VIII and his wife Wallis Simpson.

Harrods department store in London.Alamy

Alamy

Appearing in the BBC documentary, Gemma added that as part of the agreement for her leaving her job, she had to shred all evidence and sign an NDA in return for a sum of money.

She told the BBC that a shredding truck came to her lawyer’s office and a member of HR from Harrods was present.

Meanwhile, Tony Leeming, a former Harrods department manager of 10 years, told the BBC that he was “aware” of “the abuse of women” on the shop floor, but claimed he did not know about the allegations of assault of rape.

Al Fayed was a central figure in the fifth and sixth seasons ofThe Crown, with an episode dedicated to his rise from humble beginnings. The BBC documentary-makers reveal that several women came forward after seeing his sympathetic portrayal in the series, which highlighted Princess Diana’s relationship with his son, Dodi, and their tragic deaths in 1997. Reflecting onThe Crown, the woman identified as Sophia said, “People shouldn’t remember him like that.”

Princess Diana; Dodi al Fayed.Antony Jones/UK Press/Getty ; Aaron Rapoport/CORBIS OUTLINE/Corbis/Getty

Antony Jones/UK Press/Getty ; Aaron Rapoport/CORBIS OUTLINE/Corbis/Getty

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Before his death, Al-Fayed faced a number of sexual assault claims in 1997, 2008 and 2017, per the BBC.

Of the women the outlet spoke to for the investigation, a total of 14 have brought civil claims against Harrods for damages. The department store’s current owners started settling these in July 2023, according to the outlet.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.

source: people.com