Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al Fayed, whose son Dodi died alongside Princess Diana in a 1997 car crash in Paris, has been accused of rape by multiple women.
A BBC exposé titled “Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods,” released on September 19, details allegations from over 20 women who claim Al Fayed sexually assaulted them. Many of the accusers are former employees of Harrods, the luxury department store that Al Fayed owned for 26 years.
The alleged incidents took place between the late 1980s and 2000s, primarily in London and Paris, where Al Fayed owned the Ritz hotel and a historic villa previously belonging to Edward VIII. Al Fayed passed away last year at the age of 94.
The documentary reveals that a rape allegation was investigated by police in 2015, but no charges were filed. One woman approached law enforcement in 2018, only to be informed that Al Fayed, who had dementia, was considered too old for prosecution.
Thirteen women reported being sexually assaulted at a Park Lane apartment where Al Fayed would often offer late-working female employees a place to stay; four of them allege they were raped. Additionally, nine women reported sexual assaults in Paris, with five claiming attempted rape and one alleging rape.
Testimonies from colleagues, including a senior Harrods manager, indicate that Al Fayed’s behavior was widely known within the company. According to the BBC, Harrods not only failed to intervene but also “helped cover up allegations of sexual abuse.” In July 2023, the department store began settling claims with some of the women.
Several women are now preparing legal action against Harrods. In response to the allegations, Harrods expressed being “utterly appalled” and condemned Al Fayed’s actions “in the strongest possible terms.” They acknowledged their failure to protect employees who were victims and issued a sincere apology.
Al Fayed sold Harrods to the Qatari royal family in 2010 for approximately £1.5 billion. After the death of his son Dodi, he established a memorial in the store that included a wine glass from their last dinner together, a ring he claimed Dodi used to propose to Diana, and a copper statue of the couple holding a bird.
