After the Italian influencer was fined for promoting a product for fake charity purposes, other dubious campaigns are starting to come to light…
After building a profitable empire in her image, the Chiara Ferragni now he sees her collapsing… Why? The bogus charity campaign, for which she was fined €1 million for “false commercial practices” and forced to apologize via a video posted on social media.
Last year, the influencer teamed up with candy company Balocco to launch a pandoro (a typical Christmas cake) emblazoned with Ferragni’s logo, priced at €9 (almost $10), three times the price it normally retails for. The product box stated that some of the proceeds would go to the Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital in Turin, but in fact, the donation of €50,000 had already been made by Balocco alone before they even went on sale, and the famous influencer pocketed 1 million euros from the combined campaign.
In a video posted on Instagram – the social network that brought her to prominence and where she daily promotes her own and other brands as she flaunts her luxurious life – Ferragni apologized for the “miscommunication” she made regarding pandoro and announced that he would donate the money he had received to the Turin hospital. This is the last post on her account, where there has been an unusual… silence for days.
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However, the “storm” has far from subsided, but intensified, and the Italian influencer is in the eye of the cyclone that threatens the empire of her 30 million followers. This is the first major blow for Ferragni, who has been used to a steady rise at the wheel of a well-oiled machine, racking up collaborations and sponsorships that in 2022 have earned her over $10 million!
These days, other cases of dubious charity campaigns are coming to light, several sponsors and companies are pulling out of their partnerships, she is experiencing the biggest loss of followers since her career as an influencer took off, and her movements are being investigated by the law.
Cool, then, for the 36-year-old entrepreneur who started the fashion blog, The Blonde Salad, in 2009, made a fortune, was the subject of a graduate study at Harvard Business School and who, until now, has turned everything she touches into gold – like the water bottles she sells with her logo for 8 euros.
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More specifically, the prosecution is investigating two Easter egg campaigns, sold in 2021 and 2022 by the company Dolci Preziosi, wrapped in its classic pink color and with its logo, which promised to contribute to a charity project for the inclusion of children with autism. While the campaign raised more than €1 million, it was found that the donation amounted to just €36,000. Investigators are trying to determine whether it was a commercial enterprise “disguised” as a charity.
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Although the “army” of her followers is, indeed, large, reaching almost 30 million worldwide, after the revelation of the Balocco case, the Italian lost about 90,000 followers!
The comments left by users on her latest posts are negative, especially in the commercial partnerships section, where she advertises various brands. These points are significant, considering that social media is the cornerstone of Ferragni’s empire.
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The case has caused such a stir in Italy that, apart from the fact that it is prominently displayed in magazines and newspapers – and not only – it has also touched the field of politics.
Even Prime Minister Georgia Meloni attacked the influencer in one of her speeches (without mentioning her directly). While the politician highlighted the government’s activities over the past year and criticized the opposition, she launched a scathing attack on Ferragni: “True role models are not influencers who make money by wearing clothes or showing off bags, or even promoting very expensive cakes that make people think they are doing charity“, said the prime minister at an event organized by the youth of her party.
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Chiara Ferragni did not respond to the insult, but rapper Fedez, the influencer’s husband, said on social media that he found it strange that Meloni chose to attack those who work online instead of focusing on political issues. “Did he talk about youth unemployment? Did he talk about the country’s fiscal pressure? No…“, said, among others, her husband.
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Source :Skai
I am Frederick Tuttle, who works in 247 News Agency as an author and mostly cover entertainment news. I have worked in this industry for 10 years and have gained a lot of experience. I am a very hard worker and always strive to get the best out of my work. I am also very passionate about my work and always try to keep up with the latest news and trends.
