Mohamed El Fayed

[CassieMaddox]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz6x635wpjxo

This is shocking. It is scary these men are so powerful they have to die before the scale of their offending becomes clear.

I think NDAs should be banned. Rich men are able to use them to cover up their crimes.

The least surprising man to ever be accused of this type of behaviour imo. What a shame he's too dead to feel the shame of publicity. On the other hand, at least he's dead!

Heard this on R4 this morning. Emma did a sensitive interview.
What an utter piece of entitled shit that man was.

Yeah he's dead but there will be other rich powerful men out there doing the same, and people colluding and enabling because they can not afford to lose their jobs.

It was always obvious what sort of man he was, no surprise from me!

Yes, of course there will be. I'm still glad this one is dead though.

Documentary on tonight, Bbc2 at 9pm.
One year he donated Harrod's hampers to at least one branch of a well known charity. They would have sent them right back if they had known of these behaviours.

Has there been news about this before? I feel as though I already knew this, or maybe it's just because it's so depressingly familiar. I agree that NDA's should be banned.

Not surprised. A friend went for an interview years ago and was briefed before on how to look and what to wear, right down to his favourite colour on a woman. He came in half way through the interview and barked questions at her.

Do you know how many rape cases wait years before they come to trial? That’s where the annger annd attention should be not on some memory rape of 30 years ago.

I'm angry about ALL of it.

Historic rapes still have a victim who didn't get justice. I can't believe anyone would dismiss them like that

This seems to need repeating far too often: it is possible to be angry about more than one thing at a time.

Of course this is complete hearsay but when I was at Secondary school a friends older sister worked at Harrods. Apparently it wasn't unusual for a PA to go around the departments on a Friday morning and ask any of the young attractive females if they would like a free weekend away with "the boss" and his friends. She went on a few ski trips and a yacht once, she said that all sorts went on but if you kept your wits about you and paired up with another of the girls you could enjoy a nice luxury weekend safely.

I worked in Harrods as a teen in the late 80's. It was my Saturday job (cosmetics and perfumery). Al Fayed had what was described as a "harem" in that department. Women who were called to his offices frequently. An older woman I worked with said that I would be OK as I was too young. I used to dread him and his walkabouts. This was 30 odd years ago and I am truly surprised it's taken this long to come out. It was very much an open secret at the time. I am, however, not remotely surprised at the allegations.

Horrible man who ran a horrible shop

Trust your instincts when they tell you a man is a seedy creep, or far worse.

I went for an interview at Harrods in 1991. I was nearly 18 and already working in a cosmetics dept in another well known department store. The interview went well or so I thought.

I was told at the end of the interview that I wouldn’t get the job as I was wearing smart trousers and they insisted on heels, tights and skirts. That every female member of staff was expected to promote Harrods through her immaculate appearance. Wearing tailored trousers to the interview was an absolute no-no.

Even back then, I was gobsmacked. I had never been spoken to in such a way. The interviewer was female and behaved as if she was doing me a favour. I felt very relieved to get out of there. It felt like a horrible place to work.

I look back now and thank my lucky stars.

I’ve just read that he subjected women applying yo Harrods to invasive medical exams which were believed to be STI tests. And the women didn’t even get the results back, they went straight to Al Fayad. What the fuck? Why would anyone need to know the sexual health of an employee unless they were going to sleep with them.

Grim!

Not surprising at all unfortunately.

Yes I recognise this. They were very strict with appearance. I had to wear a full face of makeup and red lipstick. We had a uniform in the perfumery which consisted of a pencil skirt and blouse and we had to wear sheer tights and heels. That was hell when you were on your feet so much and particularly on days you had to do restocks from the stockroom which was miles away. I remember a heavily pregnant lady being reprimanded for wearing a low heel because she really couldn't wear 4 inch heels all day. You weren't allowed to sit either. The whole department attracted stalkers too. I had one who used to come and stand in the archway near my counter every Saturday and stare me. I never left the store alone, especially on late shifts.

A friend who provided some professional services to MFs business back in the 90s, was told by female members of staff that he expected to exercise a sort of "droit de seigneur" over the women he employed.

No surprise at all, but awful for the women involved. I wonder how many women he actually assaulted. I bet the true number is staggering.

An ex colleague had worked there in the late nineties and said the same. He'd call young female staff into his office and offer them bonuses. She read between the lines and declined. Was sacked shortly after

I don't think anyone would be surprised to read this. It was always quite obvious what type of man he was.

I still wonder what it was in his past back in Egypt that stopped him ever getting a British passport. With all his money and legal expertise at his command.

He was a very well known lech back in the day with a preference for young blonde women.

Also, if he thought your face didn't fit he would sack you on the spot. Managers took to redeploying staff in other departments rather than actually sack them it went on that much.

Not surpised, he looks like a perve.

Like Jimmy Savile, he got away with it all his life.