FILE – Chiara Ferragni poses for photographers as she arrives at the 2023 CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards on September 24, 2023 in Milan, Italy. Chiara Ferragni, an Italian fashion blogger and former businesswoman, has publicly apologized after she was fined 1 million euros (dollars) by Italian antitrust authorities for improperly communicating a charitable donation related to the sale of the traditional Pandoro Christmas cake, which was sold with their logo. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)Image: ASSOCIATED PRESS
MILAN (AP) — An Italian fashion blogger and businesswoman has apologized after she was fined 1 million euros (dollars) by Italy's antitrust regulator for making a charitable donation related to the sale of a traditional Christmas cake associated with her Logo was sold, had communicated inadmissibly.
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In an Instagram post on Monday, Chiara Ferragni said she would donate 1 million euros to the Regina Margherita Hospital in Turin to give “concreteness” to her apology, but said she would challenge the fine herself.
Ferragni said she did not adequately control communications around the sale of Balocco's Pandoro brand with its logo and would no longer link charity with commercial activities.
Ferragni started out as a fashion blogger and went on to sell clothing, accessories and makeup under her own brand, in addition to her advertising work as an influencer. She is also a board member of the luxury fashion group Tod's.
Italy's antitrust regulator also fined Balocco 420,000 euros on Friday for giving consumers the impression that part of the proceeds from sales of the Ferragni-branded Pandoro would benefit the hospital. In reality, the agency says, Balocco donated 50,000 euros before the start of the campaign in November 2022 and no further funds were transferred afterwards.
The agency found that the Ferragni brand's “Pandoro Pink Christmas” cakes were sold for more than 9 euros each, compared to the usual price of 3.70 euros.
In her video, Ferragni said she disputed the agency's fine, calling it “disproportionate.” If the fine were reduced, Ferragni said she would donate the difference to the same charity.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized Ferragni in a speech over the weekend without mentioning her by name, pointing to influencers who “promote expensive panettone and pretend they are for charity, even though the price is only enough for a millionaire's fees.” “.