Abercrombie responds to arrest of its former CEO for sex trafficking
Abercrombie & Fitch has no use for its disgraced former CEO, Michael Jeffries, who was arrested Tuesday on federal sex trafficking charges.
In a statement sent to Chain Store Age, an A&F spokesperson said the company has “zero tolerance for abuse, harassment or discrimination of any kind, and are committed to fully cooperating with law enforcement as the legal process continues.”
“As we shared when the accusations were first made public in October 2023, we are appalled and disgusted by the alleged behavior of Mr. Jeffries, whose employment with Abercrombie & Fitch Co. ended nearly ten years ago,” the spokesperson continued. “Speaking up and coming forward is not easy, and our thoughts remain with those who have bravely raised their voices as part of the federal investigation.”
The indictment alleges that Jeffries, his romantic partner Matthew Smith and another associate recruited men for “sex events.” Many of the victims were aspiring models, and were led to believe that attending the parties would help their careers.
“While Jeffries was the CEO of one of the most recognizable clothing retailers in the world, he was using his power, his wealth and his influence to traffic men for his own sexual pleasure and that of his romantic partner,” Breon Peace, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said Tuesday at a press conference.
Jeffries led the brand from 1992 to 2014. Under his tenure, the brand became a mall staple with a devoted teen/young adult following. Known for its sexually-charged marketing, Abercrombie's calling card was its shirtless male models, who were featured in its quarterly catalogues, billboards, in-store graphics, shopping bags and working in its stores.
The brand was accused of being exclusionary, something that Jeffries did not deny and which led to race and sex discrimination and harassment lawsuits. As times — and fashion trends — changed and new competitiors emerged, Abercrombie fell out of fashion. Jeffries was outsted in December 2014 after 11 straight quarters of negative comparable-store sales.
Under the direction of Fran Horowitz, who was appointed CEO in 2017, Abercrombie has been transformed and now ranks as one of the best-performing retailers in its sector. The company has rebranded itself with inclusive marketing and clothes that appeal to — and fit — a variety of sizes. Its formerly dimly lit stores have also been overhauled to be lighter and brighter.
‘For close to a decade, we have successfully transformed our brands and culture into the values-driven organization we are today,” the Abercrombie spokeperson said.
