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Prosecutors are seeking a 20-month prison sentence for influencer Chiara Ferragni for aggravated fraud stemming from a charity campaign to sell branded Pandoro Christmas cakes in 2022.
According to French news outlets French 24, Lunione Sarda, and La Presse, Mr. Ferragni appeared in a Milan court on Tuesday, November 25, for a pre-trial hearing, and the Milan public prosecutor’s office recommended a sentence of 1 year and 8 months in prison for the content creator.
The 38-year-old Italian fashion influencer – who first rose to prominence through her fashion blog in 2009 and became the first fashion blogger to appear on the cover of Vogue in 2015 – has come under scrutiny for partnering with Italian food company Barocco to sell a Pandoro Christmas cake, which promised on the box that Ferragni and Barocco would “support Turin’s Regina Margherita Hospital”.
In 2023, a year after the promotion, the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) sanctioned Mr. Ferragni for misleading the public by making it appear in a message on the box (also shared to his social media accounts) that every purchase of a Pandoro Christmas cake would benefit the hospital, when in fact Mr. Barocco had only made a one-time donation of 50,000 euros to the hospital.
Chiara Ferragni/Instagram
Ferragni first responded to the fraud allegations in an Instagram video, calling the claims “disproportionate and unfair” and a “communication error.” She also said she would donate the €1 million fee she received from Barocco for her cooperation to the hospital.
As of the end of 2024, Ferragni has reportedly paid a total of €3.4 million to settle and resolve investigations into various charitable donations, including €1 million paid to hospitals, a €1 million fine from AGCM, and €1.2 million paid to a children’s charity to settle an antitrust lawsuit over Ferragni-branded Easter eggs.
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Mr. Ferragni’s company also released a statement in May 2024 stating that it would “refrain from conducting business where commercial activities are combined with charitable activities.”
Chiara Ferragni/Instagram
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The content creator spent much of 2024 away from social media, but returned last year to promote collaborations with luxury brands and serve as the face of several regional beauty magazines.
“We have always acted in good faith, but no one has profited from this. I can’t say any more because I am confident,” Ferragni told reporters after leaving court on Tuesday, according to La Presse newspaper.
Her lawyer Marcello Bana added: “Her innocence will be clear.”
The influencer is next expected to appear in court on December 19, when the defense will make arguments, and a verdict is expected in January, according to Lunione Sarda newspaper.
