Italian influencer Chiara Ferragni, known for her nearly 30 million Instagram followers, has issued an apology for a misleading promotion involving a “designer” pink pandoro Christmas cake. The AGCM antitrust authority fined Ferragni €1.075 million for falsely claiming that sales of the cake would contribute to a children’s hospital in Turin. The watchdog revealed that the cake’s producer had donated money to the hospital months before the product launch. Ferragni, 36, expressed regret for the “mistake in good faith” and pledged to donate €1 million to the Regina Margherita hospital. She intends to appeal the ruling, describing the fine as disproportionate and unjust.
The “Pandoro Pink Christmas,” labeled as designed by Ferragni, was sold at over €9, more than twice the price of Balocco’s classic unbranded pandoro. The AGCM found that buyers were misled into believing their purchases would contribute to medical equipment for treating children with specific illnesses. Prime Minister Georgia Meloni criticized influencers promoting “expensive cakes that make people believe they are charitable,” although she did not explicitly mention Ferragni. This controversy has raised questions about the reputation of Ferragni, often regarded as the “princess of influencers and queen of social media.”
Consumer group Codacons announced plans to launch legal action seeking compensation for individuals who bought the cake under the false impression that they were supporting the Turin children’s hospital. They are filing complaints with 104 Italian prosecutors, alleging aggravated fraud. The AGCM watchdog imposed a €420,000 fine on the cake’s manufacturer, Balocco, stating that false advertising exploited consumers’ sensitivity to charitable initiatives, violating Italy’s consumer code. Additionally, fines exceeding €1 million were imposed on two companies managing Chiara Ferragni’s trademarks and rights. Balocco had already donated €50,000 to the hospital months before the cake was put on sale, and the company paid Ferragni’s two companies around €1 million for promotion.
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