The Italian mega-influencer Chiara Ferragni reached an agreement with the country's Antitrust Authority to pay at least 1,2 million euros (R$7,1 million) to a charitable organization and end an investigation into alleged fraud in the promotion of an Easter egg in 2021 and 2022 .
The products, manufactured by the Dolci Preziosi brand, bore Ferragni's name and indicated that the money raised from the sale would be donated to the NGO I Bambini delle Fate (The Fairy Children, in free translation), which finances social inclusion projects for minors with disabilities.
The influencer's companies and the candy manufacturer reportedly earned at least 1,2 million euros from the Easter eggs, but only transferred 36 thousand (R$214 thousand) to the charitable organization.
With the agreement, Ferragni will transfer 1,2 million euros to the NGO, over three years, while Cerealitalia, owner of Dolci Preziosi, will pay 100 thousand euros (R$595 thousand). The companies involved also committed to clearly and permanently separating commercial and charitable activities.
In case of non-compliance with the agreement, Ferragni's companies and the Easter egg manufacturer will be subject to a fine of up to 10 million euros (R$59,6 million).
In a statement released on Instagram, the digital influencer said that the payment of 1,2 million is a “voluntary donation”, and not a “sanction”, and that her companies have made a commitment to “completely separate commercial operations from charitable activities ”.
Despite the closure of the case at the Antitrust Authority, Ferragni is still being investigated in the criminal sphere by the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office for suspected aggravated fraud.
The scandal began after Italy's most famous influencer was fined 1 million euros (R$5,96 million) for unfair commercial practices in the promotion of a limited edition pandoro (a typical Christmas sweet) that bore her brand.
Just as in the case of Easter eggs, the product's marketing led the public to believe that the money obtained from sales would be donated to a pediatric hospital in Turin, but, in fact, Balocco, the candy's manufacturer, had already made a donation of 50 thousand euros (R$ 298 thousand) before the campaign even started.
It is estimated that Ferragni's companies earned 1 million euros from pandoro, a figure that the influencer donated to the hospital after the negative repercussion of the case. (HANDLE)
