The BBC has confirmed the subject of tonight’s mystery Panorama episode.
The broadcaster has just updated its listing for tonight’s episode, having kept a title and further information under wraps, but now we know what the ‘secret’ programme will cover.
The 58-minute broadcast is titled The Abercrombie Guys: The Dark Side of Cool, while the synopsis for the episode reads: ‘Panorama investigates allegations of exploitation and abuse at the top of one of the biggest fashion brands in the US.’
The description previously read: ‘Special. Investigative documentary.’
In a press release, the BBC noted the programme is the result of ‘a near three-year investigation by BBC Panorama and World of Secrets, a new podcast strand from the BBC’.
Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries – who joined the company in 1998 and resigned in 2014 – has been accused of exploiting young men for sex at events he hosted at his New York residences and luxurious hotels around the world.
The BBC has spoken to eight men who said they attended these events, and some of those have alleged that they were abused or exploited.
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Half of the men recruited have alleged they were ‘initially misled about the nature of the events’, or not told that sex would be expected.
Others said they understood that sex would be involved but not ‘exactly what was expected of them’.
The BBC noted that the men’s testimonies have been corroborated with ’emails, flight tickets and detailed itineraries’ sent by a middleman – identified by the BBC as James Jacobson – plus interviews with former household staff.
Now, according to Panorama, two former US prosecutors – who have independently reviewed documents and testimony uncovered by the BBC – have called for an investigation to determine whether charges for sex trafficking should be brought.
BBC Investigations Correspondent Rianna Croxford is said to have discovered that the ‘highly organised network’ used the middleman to recruit young men for the events hosted by Mike Jeffries and his British partner Matthew Smith.
Jacobson said all the men went into the events ‘with their eyes wide open’, while the BBC notes that Jeffries and Smith have not responded to repeated requests for comment.
A&F told the BBC it was ‘appalled and disgusted’ by his alleged behaviour, while saying new leadership has turned the company into ‘the values-driven organization we are today’.
Representatives added the company has ‘zero tolerance for abuse, harassment or discrimination of any kind’.
According to the BBC’s investigation, ‘recruiters’ would receive between $500 and $1,000 from Jacobson for every successful referral they made for men to attend Jeffries’ events.
Update – Panorama at 9pm tonight is “The Abercrombie Guys: The Dark Side of Cool.”
“Panorama investigates allegations of exploitation and abuse at the top of one of the biggest fashion brands in the US.” pic.twitter.com/wU7V2vwO8m
Jacobson has been described as the ‘middleman’ or ‘casting agent’, and he was hired to find men for the events, and then forwarded their photos to Jeffries and Smith.
Most of the men have alleged that Jacobson ‘propositioned’ or sexually ‘auditioned’ them, and either requested or offered to perform oral sex before introducing them to Jeffries.
It’s also alleged that a personal ‘groomer’ was hired to ‘intimately shave body hair’ from the men attending the events, while all the men said they had to sign non-disclosure agreements, understanding they would be sued if they spoke out.
BBC Panorama – The Abercrombie Guys: The Dark Side of Cool and World of Secrets Season One: The Abercrombie Guys on BBC Sounds.
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