‘Horrified’ Driver quits Oxfam over sex scandal
British actress withdraws her support after 20 years, following allegations against charity’s staff
Minnie Driver, the actress, has resigned as an Oxfam ambassador in protest at sex allegations against the charity’s staff, saying the scandal had left her ‘horrified’. It also emerged that more than 1,000 people had cancelled monthly Oxfam donations
THE first Oxfam celebrity ambassador has resigned from her role in protest at the sex scandal engulfing the charity.
Minnie Driver, the English actress, stood down after 20 years supporting the charity, saying she was “horrified” by allegations that some staff were having sex with prostitutes in crisis-hit countries.
It emerged yesterday that more than 1,270 people had cancelled their monthly donations to the charity in just three days. Those cancellations represent a possible loss of £12,039 a month or £144,468 a year, based on the average monthly donation of £9.48.
Charity bosses fear privately that more celebrities and even corporate sponsors could withdraw their support as the backlash about staff having sex with prostitutes and abuse in charity shops deepens.
In a statement, Ms Driver, 48, said: “I am nothing short of horrified by the allegations against Oxfam International.
“In no uncertain terms do I plan to continue my support of this organisation or its leaders. And though it is unfortunate that after 20 years I am no longer able to advocate and defend through this specific framework, social and economic injustice is more globally prevalent than ever. I certainly will not let the abhorrent mistakes of a troubling organisation stop me or anyone else from working with good people in this space to support a population of human beings around the world that needs our help.”
The actress also took to Twitter, saying: “All I can tell you about this awful revelation about Oxfam is that I am devastated. Devastated for the women who were used by people sent there to help them, devastated by the response of an organization that I have been raising awareness for since I was 9 years old #oxfamscandal”
In her role as an ambassador for Oxfam, the actress has travelled to countries such as Cambodia and Thailand to highlight the work the humanitarian aid organisation does. A spokesman for Oxfam praised Ms Driver’s commitment to the charity and to ending global poverty, adding: “Her decision to step down as an Oxfam Ambassador saddens us deeply, but we also understand and respect her choice.”
Other celebrities who had promoted the charity last night refused to comment on the allegations that staff offered aid for sex. Actresses such as Scarlett Johansson, Michelle Dockery and Keira Knightley have taken part in aid trips to poor countries. None have commented on their Oxfam roles.
Between Saturday and Monday, 1,270 people contacted the charity to end their monthly payments, the equivalent to two months of cancellations in just three days. Many of Ox- fam’s corporate sponsors are reviewing their relationship with the organisation. Heathrow, the Co-op Bank, Visa and Marks & Spencer said they took the allegations very “seriously”.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme also threatened to stop its children working in the charity’s shops.
Meanwhile, pressure was mounting on Mark Goldring, the charity’s chief executive, who will be summoned to appear before a committee of MPS to be questioned about his response to the claims. Nigel Evans, a senior Conservative member of the international development committee, said Oxfam was “facing obliteration” and said Mr Goldring had to go. Penny Lawrence, Oxfam’s deputy chief executive, resigned on Monday and the charity was told it could lose its £30million government funding. An Oxfam spokesman said that, since the claims emerged, there had been a rise in single donations.
“On Monday, we received 78 single gifts – the highest number since Jan 1 – and 44 regular gifts, the highest since last March 2017,” the spokesman said.
“We are grateful for the support of people during this difficult time for Oxfam, some of whom have expressed that while they are deeply saddened by the repercussions of the appalling actions of a few, they are determined that the millions of people that Oxfam helps worldwide don’t suffer as a result.”
‘I will not let the mistakes of a troubling organisation stop me from working with good people in this space’