Trial Outcome
Italian fashion influencer Chiara Ferragni has been acquitted of aggravated fraud charges following a fast-track trial in Milan. A judge found Ferragni and two other defendants not guilty. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of one year and eight months in prison for Ferragni.
The Milan court determined that no aggravation was involved, citing the withdrawal of an original complaint by a consumer group. Ferragni had previously agreed with consumer organization Codacons to compensate consumers and donate funds to a charity supporting women affected by gender violence.
Background of the Scandal
The scandal, referred to as "pandorogate," originated in 2022 with the promotion and sale of special edition pink Christmas cakes, known as pandoro, and Easter eggs branded with Ferragni's name.
Consumers were led to believe that a portion of the sales of these products would contribute to fundraising for a children's hospital in Turin and a children's charity. However, it was revealed that the cake producer, Balocco, had made a one-off €50,000 donation to the hospital prior to the cake's launch, and Ferragni's companies generated €1 million from the pandoro promotion. Ferragni subsequently pledged to donate the same sum to the hospital.
Regulatory Actions and Settlements
The incident prompted Italian authorities to initiate a formal investigation. In 2023, Italy's competition authority fined Ferragni €1 million over the pandoro cakes.
Separately, in relation to Ferragni-branded Easter eggs, the influencer agreed to pay €1.2 million to a children's charity to resolve complaints alleging misleading consumer practices.
Ferragni was later indicted on aggravated fraud charges alongside business associate Fabio Damato.
Impact
Despite the acquittal, the scandal has impacted Ferragni's brand and personal life, including the end of her marriage to Italian rapper Fedez. The case has also led to the implementation of stricter regulations for Italian influencers, mandating greater transparency in their fundraising initiatives.