Celebrity friends of tycoon branded ‘cowards’ for silence over revelations
Metoo campaigner expresses ‘disappointment’ at A-listers refusing to speak up over scandal
KATE MOSS and other celebrity friends of Sir Philip Green were branded “cowards” last night for remaining silent over the mounting sexual harassment and racist abuse accusations against him.
Moss continued to ignore requests for comment over the scandal that engulfed the Topshop tycoon even after he abandoned his legal battle to stop The Daily Telegraph exposing it.
Other celebrities linked to him did likewise, including Cara Delevingne, Rita Ora, Kate Hudson and Anna Wintour, Vogue editor, while Naomi Campbell also declined to discuss the matter.
They did the same three months earlier when Sir Philip was first named as the businessman at the centre of Britain’s own Metoo scandal.
That was despite many having spoken out against sexual harassment in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein case, Delevingne even claiming to have been a Weinstein victim.
Paola Diana, a prominent Metoo campaigner and target of abuse, told The Telegraph: “It is highly disappointing. And, for me, in this case, they’re just cowards. Really cowards.
“It’s too easy to wash your hands; it’s too easy. I don’t like these people. I’m sorry. And I don’t care if they’re famous or not. Actually, when you’re famous, you should be a role model.”
The friendship between Sir Philip and Moss dates back more than a decade, when they met at a 2006 charity auction at Annabel’s nightclub.
It was not long before the duo signed a three-year deal thought to be worth more than £3 million for Moss to design clothes for Topshop.
She also helped launch a branch of the store in New York alongside Sir Philip, with both becoming a fixture at catwalks and fashion launch shows.
The pair’s friendship secured her invites aboard his luxury yacht. Campbell has also been a regular at Sir Philip’s lavish parties, having been pictured posing with the businessman and his family at dozens of functions.
In May, Fashion For Relief, her charity fashion gala, raised money for the Time’s Up movement.
Delevingne became the face of Topshop five years ago, the same time as pursuing an acting career she claimed in 2017 led to Weinstein trying to kiss her. Others to comment on Weinstein included actress Hudson, a 60th birthday party guest of Sir Philip’s, who said: “When you see something that’s wrong, you’ve got to make noise.”
Ora, who in 2013 affectionately dubbed the tycoon “Uncle Philip”, said of the Weinstein case: “I think it’s always the brave who effect real change.”
Wintour branded the film mogul’s behaviour “appalling and unacceptable”.
After it was disclosed in October that Sir Philip had used non-disclosure agreements (NDAS) to silence accusations, Simon Cowell became the first to confirm he had severed ties with the Arcadia boss after it was revealed he spent £10million acquiring the latter’s shares in his firm, Syco.
The music mogul was followed a week later by Beyoncé, the singer, after the announcement that – as a result of negotiations of almost a year – her Parkwood company had acquired 100 per cent of Ivy Park, the clothing label that she had cofounded with Sir Philip.