Understanding the scandal
Factual overview of what has been reported and why survivors are calling for accountability.
What has been revealed and why we're demanding answers
In 2024, the abuse perpetrated by Mohamed Fayed, and the complicity that allowed it to continue at Harrods and other organisations, was finally exposed to the world. This revelation came through the investigative work of Keaton Stone, who connected survivors’ experiences to reveal the full scale and systemic nature of the abuse.
Survivors’ accounts reveal recurring, deeply troubling themes: the abuse of power, systemic failures in safeguarding and a complete absence of effective institutional oversight. These patterns demand accountability, transparency, and justice.
This page outlines what is known, what has been reported publicly, and why survivors and allies are calling for transparency and accountability today.
A glamorous facade, a hidden culture of fear
Harrods was once one of the UK’s most prestigious employers. But behind the glamour, former staff describe a workplace dominated by hierarchy, control, and the overwhelming personal authority of Mohamed Fayed and his loyal senior executives.
This culture shaped not only how concerns were raised - or silenced - but also how much staff felt able to speak out.
Fear and intimidation shaped every interaction. Many felt powerless to speak out, leaving abuse unchecked and hidden for decades.
Understanding this context is essential. Institutions with power must be held to the highest safeguarding standards, especially when historical failures are raised.
Private testimonies that went unheard
Concerns about Fayed’s predatory behaviour did not begin with his purchase of Harrods in 1985. We know of survivors dating back to the 1970's, long before he owned the store - a stark reminder that this pattern of abuse was already well-established before it later continued and expanded under the Harrods name.
Many were young.
Many were junior.
Most did not feel safe to speak openly.
These early testimonies were not isolated; they were warnings. The pattern was visible long before anyone felt able to name it.
A system that makes people afraid to speak is a system that fails.
Consistent themes found across testimonies
As more survivors and witnesses have come forward, an unmistakable and deeply troubling pattern has emerged across independent accounts.
A severe power imbalance that dictated how staff were treated, spoken to and expected to submit.
Inappropriate, predatory, and coercive behaviour that left individuals distressed, frightened and vulnerable
A complete lack of safeguarding, oversight, or any mechanism that might have protected those at risk
A culture where speaking up was not merely discouraged, but actively punished - with survivors threatened, their families threatened and staff made acutely aware of the consequences of challenging Fayed’s behaviour or reporting him to the authorities.
Senior figures repeatedly suppressed complaints, pressured survivors into signing NDAs and were complicit in covering up abuse.
Institutional responses were not merely inadequate; they were systemic and intentional - designed to evade scrutiny, obstruct investigations, and protect the perpetrator rather than support or safeguard those he harmed.
These themes have been reported independently to journalists, survivor advocates and support organisations. Together they form a consistent, credible, and damning picture of systemic failure, abuse of power and deliberate concealment at Harrods and other Fayed-owned organisations.
When multiple people raise similar concerns across decades, institutions have a responsibility to act, not to remain silent.
Decades of silence and unanswered questions
Many survivors approached managers or the police; others felt unable to do so.
What remains clear is that many questions about oversight, safeguarding, and internal accountability have never been fully answered - leaving survivors without the answers or justice they deserve.
Survivors deserve clarity. Silence is complicity.
Individuals realise they are not alone
Through his investigation, Keaton Stone uncovered that the experiences of survivors were not isolated - they were connected, revealing the full scale of abuse over decades. By piecing together countless testimonies he exposed a pattern that had long been overlooked.
As more survivors and former staff came forward, a community emerged, united in seeking truth, safety, and recognition. The stories were never random; they were part of a systemic failure that only recently has finally been brought into the light.
When survivors unite, institutions can no longer ignore them.
Many have come forward, and more are coming.
A survivor-led demand for accountability
Justice for Fayed & Harrods Survivors exists to support survivors, collect evidence and demand a full, transparent reckoning of what happened.
We call for rigorous safeguarding standards, uncompromising public accountability and complete institutional transparency.
This story is far from over - and neither is the fight for truth and justice.
We are committed to ensuring what happened is understood, acknowledged and never repeated.