The Milan Public Prosecutor's Office has concluded investigations against digital influencer Chiara Ferragni, which must be formally reported for aggravated fraud in supposedly charitable campaigns for pandoros, a typical Italian Christmas sweet, and Easter eggs between 2022 and 2023
The scandal shook the empire of the country's most followed influencer, who lost sponsorship contracts in recent months and even entered into the process of divorce with rapper Fedez, separation whose reasons are still unknown.
In addition to Ferragni, the investigation also targeted her former employee Fabio Damato and the owners of the companies Balocco (Alessandra Balocco) and Dolci Preziosi (Franco Cannillo), manufacturers of the pandoros and Easter eggs at the center of the case.
“The investigation allowed the reconstruction of the planning for the dissemination of misleading communications, aimed at deceiving consumers regarding the link between the purchase of advertised products and charitable initiatives,” says a statement signed by prosecutor Marcello Viola.
Ferragni's lawyers, Giuseppe Iannaccone and Marcello Bana, said in a statement that the case "has no criminal relevance whatsoever" and that the "controversial profits" obtained from the two products have already been "resolved" in negotiations with the Italian advertising regulatory authority (Agcom).
“Chiara Ferragni trusts in the work of the judiciary and that her innocence will be clarified as soon as possible,” highlighted the influencer’s defense.
The scandal began after Ferragni was fined 1 million euros (R$6 million) for unfair commercial practices in the promotion of a limited edition pandoro that bore her brand for Christmas 2022.
The product's advertising led the public to believe that the money obtained from sales would be donated to the Regina Margherita pediatric hospital in Turin, but in fact, Balocco had already made a donation of 50 thousand euros (R$ 300 thousand) before the campaign even began, a much smaller amount than the amount raised later.
Later, it came to light that something similar had happened with the sale of Easter eggs with the influencer's brand in 2022 and 2023, the proceeds of which would be donated, according to the advertisement, to the NGO I Bambini delle Fate, which carries out social inclusion projects for minors with disabilities.
According to the Public Prosecutor's Office, Ferragni allegedly made a profit of 2,2 million euros (R$13,2 million) from the two products. Amid the negative repercussions of the case, the Italian company reached agreements to donate 1 million euros (R$6 million) to the hospital and 1,2 million (R$7,2 million) to the NGO. (HANDLE)
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