Mohammed Al Fayed.

Why all this now, the man is dead

Al Fayed was a very influential man in business, especially London based. His ability to affect these girls prospects were far reaching. Many of them had to keep their jobs to pay the rent.

What’s great is that finally women are coming forward - in droves - to report this. And other similar situations. Brave women. Finally at last they are being believed and their stories taken more seriously. As a student in London in the 1960s I was groped wherever I went … on escalators, trains, buses, in the cinema, in church! and at the Royal Academy of Music. It was pointless reporting it. You were laughed at. And as a student, especially in the case of rape, it would be you who was asked to leave, not the professor. It was thought to be the girl’s fault. There are still some who take that view today sadly

Maybe it’s the first time they ve felt safe to say anything Anniebach Didn’t jimmy savilles crimes all come out after he was dead
A 15 year old accused him 16 years ago but it didn’t go anywhere perhaps that gave the young girls effected a reaffirmation that nothing would ever be done
No one in authority seem to doubt these crimes

Imusica always the girl blamed, wearing the wrong clothes or makeup to tempt these ‘poor’ men It was always the girls fault

When I was assaulted at 19 by a senior manager I froze and told no one. It’s only now that women and girls can speak up, and not ridiculed.
I think you said you havnt watched this programme Oreo, and find your instant victim shaming lacking in compassion and sympathy.

Anniebach

Why all this now, the man is dead

The BBC are on to it. Girls had reported it to the Met but nothing was done. The last time in 2023. It’s absolutely worth it all coming out now, in the same way as the shocking rape trial currently taking place in Provence in France. The culture of it being okay for men to assault and sexually abuse women has to change. Goodness know how many people were complicit in Harrods.

I have just been listening to the testimony of some of the women . I wonder if taking the time to have a listen to them might lead to a bit more understanding from those on here who either find this difficult to understand or would like it brushed under the carpet now that he is dead.

Calendargirl

Aveline

I don't know. If was forced to have an internal examination before a job I'd probably think, 'Now wait a minute!'. It's hard to imagine a threat that might be made that would stop me running for the hills. Obviously I'm not like these young women. He most likely picked those less likely to argue or make difficulties.

The internal examinations were part of a health check, one of the perks of the job. The doctor carrying out the examinations was female, and was fulsome in her praise of Al Fayed, telling the girls how fortunate they were to have a benevolent and humane employer, willing to provide healthcare for his staff.

And to be honest, when I started work for a bank at 16, 55 years ago, if they had told me at interview I had to undergo a medical, I would have just assumed that was part of the employment process, even if entailed an internal examination.

Naive maybe, but wouldn’t have questioned it, I don’t think.

I was a teen in the so called swinging sixties, when many of us accepted all sort of pervy male attentions as something you just either swerved or reluctantly put up with, but even so, an internal examination for a job?

Unless I’d been applying to be virgin no. 17 in some sultan’s harem, I really can’t think I’d ever have accepted that as anything but dodgy!

Oreo you say Harrods is in London, there were plenty of jobs in London at that time
Now read this
He threatened her, saying he knew where she and her family lived and that she would "never work in London again" if she spoke out about what had happened to her

I knew someone who worked there years ago. Al Fayed was not a nice man. Believe what these women are saying. Don't blame them. Blame the people who knew what was going on but did nothing.

I’m seem to recall that the female doctor who carried out the medical examinations was from Harley Street, and I don’t imagine that the girls knew an internal was part of the process until it actually happened.

It probably seemed ok as it wasn’t some creepy old chap doing it.

The man may be dead but it means, even if late, he has not got
away with what he did and his reputation, whatever that was, is shot forever. The silence has been broken. The women have been heard and people have listened
There were many, mostly men, who knew what was happening and said nothing. They will have to explain why.

I think that’s right Calendar girl.

The case with the 15 year old girl was thrown out as the CPS said there was insufficient evidence to bring charges.

Keir Starmer was actually Chief Prosecutor at the time, but that case never landed up on his desk apparently.

He could not have seen every case, there would be plenty of staff who make those decisions.

When I started work at Boots in the 1960s, I had to have a full medical examination. I didn't have an internal but did have to get undressed as part of it. Something which made me feel very uncomfortable and, looking back was, perhaps totally unnecessary.
I do recall that Marks and Spencer used offer their staff medicals and smear tests were available too. This was in the days before the national health screening programme was introduced. Non of it was compulsory.

Also from what is being alleged there were other people involved in some of the deeply unpleasant behaviour.

This chap, Michael Cole, Fayed’s right hand man, was on television every three minutes defending him. He said he loved him like a father.
I bet he knows a thing or two…

I have no idea but from the allegations staff were recording these womens phone calls etc.

At the moment these are allegations and since the man is dead will be hard to prove as it’s all he said, he did, and so on.
That isn’t saying I don’t believe that anything amiss didn’t go on at the time.I just don’t go along with some of the views on here that think women/girls had to put up with sexual assault time after time in order to put food on the table.They could have left Harrods and found other jobs.Telling the police at the time is another matter and I can see why they didn’t complain about him.Nobody, and I mean nobody has or had to allow sexual liberties being taken by an employer ( if it happens more than once particularly) in 1980’s or right now.

Witzend I know, it’s unbelievable that anyone wanting to work in a store, even a top store would have agreed to it.

I think he was a truly awful man but he cannot defend himself
against the allegations

No neither could Saville. It was pretty easy to show that he was a monster.

Anniebach

I think he was a truly awful man but he cannot defend himself
against the allegations

What sort of defence do you think he might have?