Current:Home > InvestItalian influencer under investigation in scandal over sales of Christmas cakes for charity: reports-LoTradeCoin
Italian influencer under investigation in scandal over sales of Christmas cakes for charity: reports
View Date:2024-12-23 20:46:41
ROME (AP) — A popular Italian influencer has been placed under investigation by prosecutors looking into the purportedly charitable sales of traditional Christmas cakes sold with her logo.
Chiara Ferragni, who has 29.5 million followers on Instagram, was already fined 1 million euros by Italy’s anti-trust authority last month. The agency said her company led consumers to believe that sales of the branded Balocco pandoro cakes would result in a charitable contribution to a Turin hospital.
Italian news agency LaPresse reported Monday that Milan prosecutor Eugenio Fusco had placed Ferragni and the head of the cake company, Alessandra Balocco, under investigation for aggravated fraud. Ferragni’s publicist confirmed the news.
The development followed weeks of polemics over the “pandoro-gate” scandal and questions about the relationship between influencers and the products they are paid to promote, especially when claims of charitable donations are involved.
In a statement Monday, following word that she was now officially under investigation, Ferragni said she was calm and trusted in the work of the judiciary.
“I am calm because I have always acted in good faith and I am certain that this will emerge from the ongoing investigation,” the statement said. “I have full confidence in the work of the judiciary and with my lawyers. I immediately made myself available to cooperate and clarify every detail of what happened as soon as possible.”
Ferragni started as a fashion blogger and went on to sell clothing, accessories and makeup under her own brand in addition to doing promotional work as an influencer. She is also on the Tod’s luxury fashion group board of directors.
In an Instagram video post last month, after the agency fine, Ferragni said that she had not given sufficient oversight to the communications surrounding the sales of the Balocco-brand pandoro with her logo, and that she would no longer link charitable work with commercial activities.
Ferragni apologized and said she would donate 1 million euros to the Regina Margherita Hospital in Turin to give “concreteness” to her apology, but she said she would challenge the fine itself.
Italy’s anti-trust agency also fined Balocco 420,000 euros for giving consumers the impression that part of the earnings from sales of the cakes would benefit the Turin hospital. In reality, the agency said, Balocco had donated 50,000 euros before the campaign launched in November 2022 and made no additional donations.
The agency noted that the Ferragni-branded “Pandoro Pink Christmas” cakes sold for more than 9 euros apiece, compared with the usual 3.70-euro price tag.
There was no immediate response late Monday to emails and calls to Cuneo, Italy-based Balocco.
veryGood! (33525)
Related
- Why Amanda Seyfried Traded Living in Hollywood for Life on a Farm in Upstate New York
- Why Justine Bateman Doesn't Give a S--t About Criticism Over Her Decision to Age Naturally
- Hurricanes vs. typhoons vs. cyclones: What's the difference between the three types of storms?
- Iran frees 3 Europeans in prisoner swap as detained American's lawyer denies rumors of imminent release
- Wind-whipped wildfire near Reno prompts evacuations but rain begins falling as crews arrive
- U.S. warship sunk by human-guided kamikaze bomb during World War II found off Japan
- Why Heather Rae El Moussa Calls Her Future With Selling Sunset “Frustrating”
- See Matt Damon's Rare Night Out With His All-Grown Up Kids and Wife Luciana Barroso
- When do new 'Yellowstone' episodes come out? Here's the Season 5, Part 2 episode schedule
- Riverdale's Camila Mendes Channels Kim Kardashian as She Pokes Fun at Final Season
Ranking
- World War II veteran reflects on life as he turns 100
- Austin Butler Proves He’s Keeping Elvis Close on Sweet Outing With Kaia Gerber
- Chloe Bailey Shares How She Handles Criticism Over Sultry Posts
- Phoebe Bridgers Calls Out Fans Who “F--king Bullied” Her at Airport After Her Dad’s Death
- Jenn Tran's Ex Devin Strader Throws Shade At Her DWTS Partner Sasha Farber Amid Romance Rumors
- Ukrainian military chief hints that counteroffensive could be coming soon
- The Fate of The Night Agent Revealed
- 11 Beauty Products to Help You Wake Up in the Morning
Recommendation
-
Jennifer Lopez Gets Loud in Her First Onstage Appearance Amid Ben Affleck Divorce
-
Pete Davidson Shares Exactly How Many Women He's Dated in the Last 10 Years
-
Here's the Truth About Raquel Leviss Visiting Tom Sandoval's Home
-
Why Model Emira D'Spain Decided to Document Her Gender Confirming Surgery
-
New York nursing home operator accused of neglect settles with state for $45M
-
Outer Banks Star Carlacia Grant Talks Viral Trends, Beauty Regrets, and Color-Changing Lip Balm
-
More children than ever displaced and at risk of violence and exploitation, U.N. warns
-
45 bags containing human remains found after 7 young people go missing in western Mexico