Multiple Men Accuse Abercrombie & Fitch Former CEO of 'Sex Events,' Exploitation

New accusations suggest that former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries allegedly exploited men at "sex events" after they were recruited by a man with a "snakeskin patch" where his nose used to be, the BBC reported.

An investigation by the BBC purports to have found that "a highly organized network used a middleman to find young men for... events with Mike Jeffries and Matthew Smith," the latter being Jeffries' partner, who is British. "Eight men told the BBC they attended these events, some of whom alleged they were exploited or abused," the news service relayed.

"Men who attended these events told the BBC Mike Jeffries and Matthew Smith would engage in sexual activity with about four men or 'direct' them to have sex with each other," the BBC went on to detail. "Afterwards, the men said staff at the event handed them envelopes filled with thousands of dollars in cash."

The article further explained that "A small group of Mr Jeffries' personal staff, who wore A&F uniforms, supervised the men – even during the sex acts," and said that the recruiters who found men for the events would "receive between $500 and $1,000 from Mr Jacobson for every referral..."

A "middleman" for Jeffries and Smith "denied any wrongdoing and said men went into these events 'with their eyes wide open,'" the BBC added.

The BBC recalled that Jeffries "transformed A&F from a failing heritage outfitter into a multi-billion-dollar teen retailer by selling sex appeal, with preppy all-American shirtless male store models and provocative billboards."

But Jeffries was also "a controversial figure who faced claims of discrimination against staff, concerns about his lavish expenses and complaints about the unofficial influence of his life partner, Matthew Smith, inside A&F," the BBC recounted.

The claims said that Jeffries "exploited young adult men for sex at events he hosted in his New York residences and luxurious hotels around the world, including in London, Paris, Venice, and Marrakesh," according to the news outlet, detailing that the report was based on what a dozen men claimed happened over a six-year span from 2009-2015.

"In 2014, Mr Jeffries stepped down following declining sales and left with a retirement package valued at around $25m (£20.5m), according to company filings at the time," the BBC detailed.

Eight men said they had been attendees of the alleged events, and said they were "recruited by a middleman, who they described as having a missing nose covered with a snakeskin patch." The BBC claimed to have identified that person as a man named James Jacobson.

In the course of the investigation – which included interviewing "dozens of other sources," as well as examining "emails, flight tickets and detailed travel itineraries" – the BBC heard from "half the men" who claimed to have been "recruited" that "they had been initially misled about the nature of the events or not told sex was involved."

"Others said they understood the events would be sexual," the article added, "but not exactly what was expected of them."

"All were paid," with several claiming that "the middleman or other recruiters raised the possibility of modeling opportunities with A&F."

The article included comments by one of the men, David Bradberry, who said that in 2010, when he was 23, he met with Jacobson – who had been described to him as a "gatekeeper" for the company's "owners" – and said that Jacobson "suggested Bruce Weber – then A&F's official photographer – should take his picture."

But after that, he added, "Jim made it clear to me that unless I let him perform oral sex on me, that I would not be meeting with Abercrombie & Fitch or Mike Jeffries."

That seemingly jibed with another detail the BBC relayed: allegations that "Mr Jacobson propositioned or sexually 'auditioned' [recruits] by requesting or offering to perform oral sex before being introduced to Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith."

Said Bradberry: "It was like he was selling fame. And the price was compliance."

Another man making the allegations, identified only as Alex, was "a straight man then in his 20s" when "he was auditioned by Mr Jacobson, who praised his dancing but demanded he 'finish the job' by performing oral sex on him," the BBC article said.

"I had debt, I wanted to support my family," Alex told the outlet. "I performed the job and I was, like, disgusted."

Alex went on to add that on at least one occasion, in Marrakesh, he believes he was given spiked alcohol and then raped.

The BBC shared its investigation with legal experts who suggested there might be a basis for prosecutors to look into whether sex trafficking and sexual coercion might have taken place.

Jeffries, now 79, and Smith, now 60, did not respond to requests for comment, and Abercrombie & Fitch, "which has said it considers Mr Jeffries its modern-day founder, told the BBC it was 'appalled and disgusted' by his alleged behavior," the article relayed.

The company "said new leadership has transformed the company into 'the values-driven organization we are today' and it has 'zero tolerance for abuse, harassment or discrimination of any kind,'" the article added.

Jacobson, 70, contacted by the BBC, said, "Any encounter I had was fully consensual, not coercive."

"Everyone I came into contact with who attended these events went in with their eyes wide open."