Italian Influencer Chiara Ferragni Faces Fraud Trial Over Charity Promotion Scandal

Preliminary hearings have officially commenced in Milan for the criminal proceedings targeting prominent Italian blogger and influencer, Chiara Ferragni. This legal development marks a significant escalation in the controversy that first surfaced in late 2022.

The core of the issue revolves around a promotional campaign for cakes sold under Ferragni’s personal brand, Ferragni, created in partnership with the confectionery company Balocco. This initiative was heavily marketed as a charitable endeavor, with assurances that a portion of the proceeds would be directed to the Regina Margherita Children's Hospital in Turin. However, investigative work, notably by journalist Selvaggia Lucarelli in the newspaper Domani, uncovered discrepancies. It was revealed that Ferragni allegedly retained profits three times greater than the initial cost of the dessert itself. This entire affair quickly became known in the Italian media as the “Pandoro-gate” scandal.

A similar pattern of alleged misrepresentation emerged concerning the promotion of Dolci Preziosi chocolate eggs. Over a two-year period, Ferragni reportedly earned 1.2 million euros from this campaign, yet no funds were reportedly transferred to the I bambini delle Fate charitable project, despite explicit claims made in the advertising materials.

The fallout from these revelations was substantial even before the criminal trial began. In 2023, Italy’s antitrust authority imposed a significant financial penalty on Ferragni, exceeding 1 million euros, while Balocco was fined 400,000 euros. Despite these regulatory actions, the matter has now proceeded to the criminal court system.

Following the initial public outcry surrounding the incidents, Ferragni issued a public apology across her social media platforms. Furthermore, she subsequently paid out a total of 3.4 million euros, encompassing both regulatory fines and voluntary donations to various charitable organizations, including the aforementioned Regina Margherita Children's Hospital in Turin.

The prosecution is now seeking a sentence of one year and eight months of imprisonment for Ferragni, charging her with aggravated fraud. Prosecutors contend that consumers were deliberately misled regarding the donation structure. Since the contribution amount was fixed and not tied to sales volume, the arrangement allegedly resulted in illicit profits exceeding 2 million euros. Conversely, Ferragni maintains her innocence, asserting that all her actions were undertaken in good faith. Her legal defense team is actively working to reclassify the case, attempting to shift it from the criminal jurisdiction to an administrative one.

The official trial proceedings for the Pandorogate case are scheduled to begin on December 5th, setting the stage for a high-profile legal battle concerning influencer accountability and marketing ethics in Italy.