Mohamed Al-Fayed, Father of Dodi, Accused of Multiple Rapes

The father of Diana’s former boyfriend, Dodi Fayed, has been accused of sexual assault by five women. According to the BBC documentary Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods, the women allege they were assaulted while working at Harrods, the luxury department store in London.

The documentary, which premiered on September 19, features testimony from over 20 former female employees who claim they experienced sexual misconduct by Al-Fayed. These incidents reportedly occurred across several locations, including London, St. Tropez, Abu Dhabi, and Paris.

Shortly after the documentary aired, Harrods released a statement expressing their horror at the alleged abuse. Al-Fayed, who passed away in September 2023 at the age of 94, was accused of using his power to exploit employees.

“These were the actions of an individual intent on abusing his power wherever he operated, and we condemn them in the strongest terms,” the statement said. “We also acknowledge that during this time, as a business, we failed our employees who were his victims, and for this, we sincerely apologize.”

The current management of Harrods emphasized that they are committed to putting employee welfare at the center of operations. They noted that since new information regarding historical sexual abuse allegations surfaced in 2023, they have prioritized settling claims swiftly to avoid protracted legal battles for the victims.

Their statement further added, “While we cannot undo the past, we are determined to ensure that such behavior never happens again in the future.”

Al-Fayed faced multiple allegations of sexual assault over the years, with accusations coming forth during three different periods: 1997, 2008, and 2017. In total, 14 civil lawsuits were filed against Harrods, seeking damages for the alleged actions of Al-Fayed. The current owners of the department store began settling these claims in July 2023.

At the height of his fame, Al-Fayed’s son was romantically linked with Princess Diana. Their relationship, which ended tragically when both died in a car crash in Paris in 1997, has captured public interest, even being depicted in the sixth season of Netflix’s The Crown.

In the series, Al-Fayed is portrayed by actor Salim Dau and is shown as having played a role in bringing the couple together. Following the release of the series, Al-Fayed’s former spokesperson, Michael Cole, challenged the portrayal, suggesting that it misrepresented Al-Fayed’s role in Dodi and Diana’s relationship.

Cole remarked that Netflix describes The Crown as “dramatized fiction,” suggesting that the narrative should not be taken literally. He indicated that Al-Fayed did not manipulate the relationship between his son and Diana, dismissing any implication that Al-Fayed was trying to secure British citizenship through this connection.

Describing the allegations surrounding Al-Fayed’s matchmaking attempts, Cole stated, “This is total nonsense. Mohamed was a remarkable man in many ways. He was delighted that his eldest son and his family’s dear friend Diana were together. But making two people fall in love with each other? That was beyond even his great talents.”

In light of the serious nature of these allegations, it is important for anyone who may have experienced sexual assault to seek help. The National Sexual Assault Hotline is available at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).