Chiara Ferragni acquitted in fraud case
Court drops all charges
Italian influencer and entrepreneur Chiara Ferragni has been fully acquitted by the Milan Criminal Court in a fraud case related to charitable campaigns involving the sale of holiday products.
The case, unofficially dubbed «Pandorogate» in the media, concerned the sale of Christmas cakes (pandoro) and Easter chocolate eggs, which were advertised as products where a portion of the proceeds would allegedly go to charity. Buyers were led to believe that their purchases directly supported children’s hospitals and charitable foundations.
However, investigations revealed that the actual donations were not linked to specific sales: a significant portion of the funds had already been transferred before the campaigns began, and consumers received no guarantees that their purchases genuinely increased the amount of aid.
Why Ferragni Was Acquitted
Judge Ilio Mannucci Pacini of the Third Criminal Section noted that the key aggravating factor cited by the prosecution – alleged violation of consumer rights – was not substantiated. The case was downgraded from «aggravated fraud» to ordinary fraud, which in Italy can only be prosecuted upon a formal complaint by the civil party.
The consumer organization Codacons, which had initially filed the complaint, withdrew it about a year ago after Ferragni and her companies reached a settlement and paid compensation. This formed the legal basis for the dismissal of the case and the acquittal.
Multi-Million-Euro Payments and Fines
Before the verdict, Ferragni had already paid over €3.4 million in compensation and fines, including reimbursements to consumers and children’s charities.
Reactions and Consequences
For Ferragni herself, one of Italy’s most famous bloggers with a multi-million following, the decision marked the «end of a nightmare», as she later described the events. The case received wide attention in Italy and abroad, sparking discussions on transparency in influencer marketing campaigns and the boundaries of linking commercial projects with charitable causes.
Nevertheless, the scandal significantly affected Ferragni’s reputation and her businesses: in 2023, Italian antitrust authorities had already fined her companies over €1 million for unfair commercial practices, and her brands’ revenues dropped noticeably.
Photo: Instagram @chiaraferragni
