A&F boss and partner face fresh sexual exploitation claims
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More men have come forward with accounts of being recruited and exploited for sex at events hosted by the fashion guru who turned Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) into a global clothing powerhouse and 비아그라처방 his partner.
Eight men have joined a dozen others to say they were approached and coerced into attending sex parties curated for the entertainment of Mike Jeffries, the former CEO of the clothing brand, and his life partner Matthew Smith.
The pair, aged 80 and 61 respectively, have previously denied all claims of wrongdoing while the clothing brand itself has sought to distance itself from the allegations, denying knowledge of their existence. It is investigating.
However, a new podcast features the accounts of several men who say they were molested at sex events held in grand hotel rooms and even injected with what they were told was 'liquid Viagra' - to which one person suffered a severe reaction.
In addition, one alleged abuse survivor claimed one of Jeffries' assistants had been working for A&F as he supervised the sex events - reportedly using a company email address.
Former Abercrombie & Fitch boss Mike Jeffries is facing further allegations of sexually exploiting men during his time as CEO of the fashion brand
Mr Jeffries and his life partner Matthew Smith (left) are accused of recruiting men for sex parties and coercing them into sexual acts they were not comfortable with
Model Keith Milkie claimed Jeffries and Smith deliberately targeted straight men they could coerce into gay sex
Diego Guillen, who was paid to call people to invite them to the alleged sex parties, said he took part in them and that all involved did so consensually
The men spoke to the BBC's World of Secrets podcast, which first detailed bombshell allegations against A&F, Jeffries and Smith last September.
Two new episodes were released last night after the broadcaster said it was approached by multiple other men in the wake of a Panorama documentary it released alongside the podcast.
The FBI is investigating the allegations and has interviewed some of those involved, including one man who attended the sex parties but claimed they were held with the 'full consent' of all those involved.
Read More
FBI is probing claims ex-Abercrombie & Fitch boss Mike Jeffries sexually exploited and abused dozens of young men at events they hosted in New York and at luxury hotels around the world
But the eight men who spoke to the BBC say they were exploited by Jeffries and Smith, who have denied the allegations.
One man, given the name Luke to protect his identity, said he was recruited from a modelling website and guided into a hotel suite in Spain that had been dressed up to resemble an A&F store in a twisted roleplay scenario.
He claimed he was encouraged to act as one of the store's infamous shirtless greeters to impress 'two very important guests' - Jeffries and Smith - who then forcibly kissed him and tried to perform oral sex on him.
Luke recalled: 'I was trying to avoid the whole situation as much as I could, but Michael was very aggressive. I tried to say no repeatedly. I constantly was saying no.'
However, he felt unable to leave as assistants were 'watching (the) exits'. An assistant from Mr Jeffries' private office had interviewed him on Skype for what he believed was going to be a photoshoot.
His travel and accomodation was paid for, and he was given €3,500 in cash and made to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
'There's an immense amount of shame associated with this idea that you're not a masculine man if you've been molested or taken advantage of by another man,' Luke, who identifies as straight, told the podcast.
Another attendee named Chris said he was injected in the penis with what we was told was 'liquid Viagra' by one of Jeffries' assistants, who was not medically trained.
He suffered a reaction, feeling 'hot, dizzy' and in shock after he was allegedly injected in a Manhattan townhouse that once belonged to the fashion boss.
However, he claimed nobody called an ambulance. Instead, Jeffries and Smith are alleged to have tried to have sex with him.
One man described being led into a hotel room in Spain that had been dressed up to resemble an A&F store (stock image of an A&F shop)
Barrett Pall was one of the first people to make allegations against Mr Jeffries and 비아그라 가격 Mr Smith
David Bradberry has lodged a civil lawsuit against A&F as well as Jeffries and Smith, claiming the retailer bears a degree of responsibility for the alleged sex parties
James Jacobson, a man with a snakeskin patch on his nose, was alleged to have acted as a middleman in recruiting people for the claimed sex parties
A&F has sought to deny any knowledge of the alleged sex parties organised over the two decades of Jeffries' controversial reign at the top of the company - but new accounts have cast doubt on the company's denials.
Former model Keith Milkie, 31, said one of Jeffries' assistants had 'bragged' about doing work for the company. The BBC, in investigating the claims, is reported to have discovered the assistant had an Abercrombie & Fitch email.
Unlike some other people interviewed by the BBC, Mr Milkie said he understood the events would be sexual - but nevertheless said he was not told what would be involved, and was not comfortable with what he was asked to do.
Read More
Who is Mike Jeffries' partner Matthew Smith? Meet British partner of ex-Abercrombie & Fitch boss embroiled in sex-exploitation probe
On one occasion in Paris, he claimed he was told by Jeffries to have sex with another man despite identifying as straight.
'This was the exploitation of straight men, they didn't want gays... They wanted straight men that they could sort of coerce, you know, it makes it more fantastical,' he said.
The events are believed to have taken place from 2009 until 2015 - shortly after Jeffries quit A&F amid growing criticism of the way he was running the firm.
In January, the FBI confirmed it had opened a criminal investigation into the BBC's allegations, working with the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.
One former attendee interviewed by the FBI claims he was paid $500 every week for seven months to phone men expected to attend the events - and said they were under 'no obligation, zero pressure'.
Diego Guillen, who says he was also interviewed by a private investigator acting on behalf of Jeffries after the FBI knocked on his door, said those who attended the alleged sex parties did so with full knowledge of what was to happen.
He was among those to claim to have attended the events and was paid to do so by James Jacobson, whom the BBC previously reported acted as a middleman for Jeffries and Smith.
'Michael and Matthew are high profile gay men and liked having sex with young, handsome men,' said Mr Guillen, who now runs his own real estate firm.
'Being older, they knew that the real way to get this done was to be generous,, but with full consent and making sure that the boys wanted it and liked it. And that's it.'
Jeffries' reign at Abercrombie & Fitch was dominated by its controversial brand image and the equally controversial remarks he made about his customer base
Lawyers acting for Mr Jeffries have vehemently denied the allegations and refused to comment on them, insisting they will be dealt with in court
Abercrombie & Fitch's hyper-sexualised image gained it many admirers in the early 2000s - but later led to criticism for being exclusionary
Last year, the BBC aired a bombshell documentary featuring claims from a number of men who said they were recruited for sex parties to entertain Jeffries.
The men all say they were then recruited for sex parties across the world. The parties were held in the US, including at Jeffries' plush home in the Hamptons in New York, as well as in London, Paris, Venice, Marrakesh and 비아그라 가격 the Caribbean.
It was alleged that at least one event was held at Claridge's in Mayfair, sometime between 2009 and 2015.
Read More
Abercrombie & Fitch suspends $1million lifetime annual bonus to former CEO Mike Jeffries after sex trafficking allegations and lawsuit claiming fashion brand enabled him to sexually abuse male models
A number of the men say they were exploited or abused sexually during the parties, being coerced into performing acts they did not want to do.
The BBC said it has corroborated the accounts with emails, flight tickets and travel itineraries, as well as former members of Mr Jeffries' household staff.
James Jacobson, 정품비아그라 described by one man as having a 'snakeskin patch nose', is alleged to have acted as a middleman, finding men for sex events and propositioning them for oral sex in twisted 'auditions'.
He has denied any wrongdoing, telling the BBC he took offence at the suggestion of 'any coercive, deceptive or forceful behaviour on my part', adding that every encounter he had was 'fully consensual'.
A&F is also facing a civil lawsuit from alleged abuse survivor David Bradberry, who claims the retailer bears a degree of responsibility for Jeffries' activities.
Like Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith, A&F has been trying to get the civil lawsuit dismissed, arguing it had no knowledge of 'the supposed sex trafficking venture' led by its former CEO.
Jeffries was credited with reversing the ailing fortunes of Abercrombie & Fitch when he took over the company in 1992. His reign saw the firm enjoy huge growth despite controversy over its brand image.
He deployed shirtless greeters outside stores to lure customers in - with early greeters such as Channing Tatum, Jamie Dornan and Penn Badgley becoming huge household names later in life.
Jeffries' reign at Abercrombie & Fitch saw him openly describe the firm as 'discriminatory' against what he saw as unattractive people
Under Jeffries A&F became an elite fashion powerhouse - but it was plagued by claims of discrimination and negative publicity that eventually saw him forced out
It was controversial in its use of 'shirtless greeters' to entice shoppers in - with many big names getting their start as an A&F hunk
But Jeffries unapologetically claimed A&F was 'exclusionary' and only for what he saw as 'good-looking' people, and the firm was accused of a litany of discriminatory behaviour that targeted people based on their appearance and religious beliefs.
Staff were given roles based on their graded appearance - with the 'best-looking' staff on the shop floor with others consigned to the stockrooms.
But this landed the firm in hot water: a woman with one arm took A&F to an employment tribunal and won £9,000 after she had been relegated to the backrooms of the firm's flagship London store.
A&F previously told the BBC it was 'appalled and disgusted' by Mr Jeffries' alleged behaviour.
Earlier this year, a US court ruled that it must cover the cost of Mike Jeffries' legal defence as he continues to fight the civil allegations of sex-trafficking and rape.
The judge ruled the allegations were tied to his corporate role after he sued the brand for refusing to pay his legal fees.
Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith did not respond to the BBC's requests for comment.
However, their lawyers' have previously said they 'vehemently' deny allegations of wrongdoing, adding: 'The courtroom is where we will deal with this matter'.
In October, Jeffries' solicitor said: 'Michael is 79 years old and retired. In years past, he has chosen not to comment on media reports, documentaries, and stories of any kind as they relate to his personal life - and does not plan on doing so now.'
MailOnline has contacted A&F, Smith and Jeffries for comment.
All episodes of the BBC's World of Secrets: Season 1 - The Abercrombie Guys podcast are available on BBC Sounds now, or wherever you get your podcasts.
FBIBBC
Eight men have joined a dozen others to say they were approached and coerced into attending sex parties curated for the entertainment of Mike Jeffries, the former CEO of the clothing brand, and his life partner Matthew Smith.
The pair, aged 80 and 61 respectively, have previously denied all claims of wrongdoing while the clothing brand itself has sought to distance itself from the allegations, denying knowledge of their existence. It is investigating.
However, a new podcast features the accounts of several men who say they were molested at sex events held in grand hotel rooms and even injected with what they were told was 'liquid Viagra' - to which one person suffered a severe reaction.
In addition, one alleged abuse survivor claimed one of Jeffries' assistants had been working for A&F as he supervised the sex events - reportedly using a company email address.
Former Abercrombie & Fitch boss Mike Jeffries is facing further allegations of sexually exploiting men during his time as CEO of the fashion brand
Mr Jeffries and his life partner Matthew Smith (left) are accused of recruiting men for sex parties and coercing them into sexual acts they were not comfortable with
Model Keith Milkie claimed Jeffries and Smith deliberately targeted straight men they could coerce into gay sex
Diego Guillen, who was paid to call people to invite them to the alleged sex parties, said he took part in them and that all involved did so consensually
The men spoke to the BBC's World of Secrets podcast, which first detailed bombshell allegations against A&F, Jeffries and Smith last September.
Two new episodes were released last night after the broadcaster said it was approached by multiple other men in the wake of a Panorama documentary it released alongside the podcast.
The FBI is investigating the allegations and has interviewed some of those involved, including one man who attended the sex parties but claimed they were held with the 'full consent' of all those involved.
Read More
FBI is probing claims ex-Abercrombie & Fitch boss Mike Jeffries sexually exploited and abused dozens of young men at events they hosted in New York and at luxury hotels around the world
But the eight men who spoke to the BBC say they were exploited by Jeffries and Smith, who have denied the allegations.
One man, given the name Luke to protect his identity, said he was recruited from a modelling website and guided into a hotel suite in Spain that had been dressed up to resemble an A&F store in a twisted roleplay scenario.
He claimed he was encouraged to act as one of the store's infamous shirtless greeters to impress 'two very important guests' - Jeffries and Smith - who then forcibly kissed him and tried to perform oral sex on him.
Luke recalled: 'I was trying to avoid the whole situation as much as I could, but Michael was very aggressive. I tried to say no repeatedly. I constantly was saying no.'
However, he felt unable to leave as assistants were 'watching (the) exits'. An assistant from Mr Jeffries' private office had interviewed him on Skype for what he believed was going to be a photoshoot.
His travel and accomodation was paid for, and he was given €3,500 in cash and made to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
'There's an immense amount of shame associated with this idea that you're not a masculine man if you've been molested or taken advantage of by another man,' Luke, who identifies as straight, told the podcast.
Another attendee named Chris said he was injected in the penis with what we was told was 'liquid Viagra' by one of Jeffries' assistants, who was not medically trained.
He suffered a reaction, feeling 'hot, dizzy' and in shock after he was allegedly injected in a Manhattan townhouse that once belonged to the fashion boss.
However, he claimed nobody called an ambulance. Instead, Jeffries and Smith are alleged to have tried to have sex with him.
One man described being led into a hotel room in Spain that had been dressed up to resemble an A&F store (stock image of an A&F shop)
Barrett Pall was one of the first people to make allegations against Mr Jeffries and 비아그라 가격 Mr Smith
David Bradberry has lodged a civil lawsuit against A&F as well as Jeffries and Smith, claiming the retailer bears a degree of responsibility for the alleged sex parties
James Jacobson, a man with a snakeskin patch on his nose, was alleged to have acted as a middleman in recruiting people for the claimed sex parties
A&F has sought to deny any knowledge of the alleged sex parties organised over the two decades of Jeffries' controversial reign at the top of the company - but new accounts have cast doubt on the company's denials.
Former model Keith Milkie, 31, said one of Jeffries' assistants had 'bragged' about doing work for the company. The BBC, in investigating the claims, is reported to have discovered the assistant had an Abercrombie & Fitch email.
Unlike some other people interviewed by the BBC, Mr Milkie said he understood the events would be sexual - but nevertheless said he was not told what would be involved, and was not comfortable with what he was asked to do.
Read More
Who is Mike Jeffries' partner Matthew Smith? Meet British partner of ex-Abercrombie & Fitch boss embroiled in sex-exploitation probe
On one occasion in Paris, he claimed he was told by Jeffries to have sex with another man despite identifying as straight.
'This was the exploitation of straight men, they didn't want gays... They wanted straight men that they could sort of coerce, you know, it makes it more fantastical,' he said.
The events are believed to have taken place from 2009 until 2015 - shortly after Jeffries quit A&F amid growing criticism of the way he was running the firm.
In January, the FBI confirmed it had opened a criminal investigation into the BBC's allegations, working with the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.
One former attendee interviewed by the FBI claims he was paid $500 every week for seven months to phone men expected to attend the events - and said they were under 'no obligation, zero pressure'.
Diego Guillen, who says he was also interviewed by a private investigator acting on behalf of Jeffries after the FBI knocked on his door, said those who attended the alleged sex parties did so with full knowledge of what was to happen.
He was among those to claim to have attended the events and was paid to do so by James Jacobson, whom the BBC previously reported acted as a middleman for Jeffries and Smith.
'Michael and Matthew are high profile gay men and liked having sex with young, handsome men,' said Mr Guillen, who now runs his own real estate firm.
'Being older, they knew that the real way to get this done was to be generous,, but with full consent and making sure that the boys wanted it and liked it. And that's it.'
Jeffries' reign at Abercrombie & Fitch was dominated by its controversial brand image and the equally controversial remarks he made about his customer base
Lawyers acting for Mr Jeffries have vehemently denied the allegations and refused to comment on them, insisting they will be dealt with in court
Abercrombie & Fitch's hyper-sexualised image gained it many admirers in the early 2000s - but later led to criticism for being exclusionary
Last year, the BBC aired a bombshell documentary featuring claims from a number of men who said they were recruited for sex parties to entertain Jeffries.
The men all say they were then recruited for sex parties across the world. The parties were held in the US, including at Jeffries' plush home in the Hamptons in New York, as well as in London, Paris, Venice, Marrakesh and 비아그라 가격 the Caribbean.
It was alleged that at least one event was held at Claridge's in Mayfair, sometime between 2009 and 2015.
Read More
Abercrombie & Fitch suspends $1million lifetime annual bonus to former CEO Mike Jeffries after sex trafficking allegations and lawsuit claiming fashion brand enabled him to sexually abuse male models
A number of the men say they were exploited or abused sexually during the parties, being coerced into performing acts they did not want to do.
The BBC said it has corroborated the accounts with emails, flight tickets and travel itineraries, as well as former members of Mr Jeffries' household staff.
James Jacobson, 정품비아그라 described by one man as having a 'snakeskin patch nose', is alleged to have acted as a middleman, finding men for sex events and propositioning them for oral sex in twisted 'auditions'.
He has denied any wrongdoing, telling the BBC he took offence at the suggestion of 'any coercive, deceptive or forceful behaviour on my part', adding that every encounter he had was 'fully consensual'.
A&F is also facing a civil lawsuit from alleged abuse survivor David Bradberry, who claims the retailer bears a degree of responsibility for Jeffries' activities.
Like Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith, A&F has been trying to get the civil lawsuit dismissed, arguing it had no knowledge of 'the supposed sex trafficking venture' led by its former CEO.
Jeffries was credited with reversing the ailing fortunes of Abercrombie & Fitch when he took over the company in 1992. His reign saw the firm enjoy huge growth despite controversy over its brand image.
He deployed shirtless greeters outside stores to lure customers in - with early greeters such as Channing Tatum, Jamie Dornan and Penn Badgley becoming huge household names later in life.
Jeffries' reign at Abercrombie & Fitch saw him openly describe the firm as 'discriminatory' against what he saw as unattractive people
Under Jeffries A&F became an elite fashion powerhouse - but it was plagued by claims of discrimination and negative publicity that eventually saw him forced out
It was controversial in its use of 'shirtless greeters' to entice shoppers in - with many big names getting their start as an A&F hunk
But Jeffries unapologetically claimed A&F was 'exclusionary' and only for what he saw as 'good-looking' people, and the firm was accused of a litany of discriminatory behaviour that targeted people based on their appearance and religious beliefs.
Staff were given roles based on their graded appearance - with the 'best-looking' staff on the shop floor with others consigned to the stockrooms.
But this landed the firm in hot water: a woman with one arm took A&F to an employment tribunal and won £9,000 after she had been relegated to the backrooms of the firm's flagship London store.
A&F previously told the BBC it was 'appalled and disgusted' by Mr Jeffries' alleged behaviour.
Earlier this year, a US court ruled that it must cover the cost of Mike Jeffries' legal defence as he continues to fight the civil allegations of sex-trafficking and rape.
The judge ruled the allegations were tied to his corporate role after he sued the brand for refusing to pay his legal fees.
Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith did not respond to the BBC's requests for comment.
However, their lawyers' have previously said they 'vehemently' deny allegations of wrongdoing, adding: 'The courtroom is where we will deal with this matter'.
In October, Jeffries' solicitor said: 'Michael is 79 years old and retired. In years past, he has chosen not to comment on media reports, documentaries, and stories of any kind as they relate to his personal life - and does not plan on doing so now.'
MailOnline has contacted A&F, Smith and Jeffries for comment.
All episodes of the BBC's World of Secrets: Season 1 - The Abercrombie Guys podcast are available on BBC Sounds now, or wherever you get your podcasts.
FBIBBC
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