The shocking scandal of the Gucci family “Sexual abuse by stepfather since the age of 6”

The great-granddaughter and heir to the founder of the expensive clothing brand Gucci (GUCCI) filed a lawsuit for being sexually abused by her stepfather as a child.

The New York Times (NYT) of the United States reported on the 9th (local time) that Alexandra Zarini, 35, filed a lawsuit in a California court stating that “from the age of 6, she was abused by her stepfather, including sexual harassment and beatings. “

Zarini is the great-granddaughter of Guccio Gucci (1881-1953), the founder of Gucci, and the only granddaughter of Aldo Gucci (1905-1990), who raised Gucci as a global brand. The lawsuit she filed was not only against her stepfather Joseph Ruffalo, but also her mother Patricia Gucci and her grandmother Bruna Palombo.

According to court documents obtained by NYT, Ruffalo, who worked as a manager for the American disco band Prince & Earth and Wind & Fire, began abusing Zarini when he was six years old. Zarani, who had a nightmare at the time, dug into the bed where her mother slept, and from that day on, Ruffalo was sexually harassed.

As we got older, the degree of abuse worsened. Ruffalo was sexually assaulted, similar to a sexual assault, forcing Zarini to climb onto the bed naked and ask him to touch her.

Zarani admitted to using cocaine and methamphetamine, claiming that Ruffalo assaulted him and forced him to use drugs.

Zarani also filed a lawsuit against her mother, Patricia Gucci, and her grandmother. They helped and covered up the sexual abuse. Patricia has been featured in Gucci ad campaigns in the past, served as a member of the board of directors since the age of 19, and is also a Gucci brand ambassador. According to Zarini’s claims, her mother allowed her husband Ruffalo to film her naked Zarini and regularly beat her.

Also, when Zarini was 16 years old, her grandmother asked her, “Does your stepfather sexually harass you?” And she threatened “not to speak.” According to the warden, the defendants ordered the cover-up because “at all costs, it could undermine the Gucci name and potentially cost millions of dollars.” When Zarini told her mother that she would reveal this fact even when she was in her 20s, Zarini claimed to have been threatened saying that it would be “an embarrassment to the family” and that “she will not only be stigmatized as a drug addict, but will be excluded from the inheritance “. did.

When this case was revealed, the mother told the NYT: “I deeply apologize for the pain that Rufalo gave Zarini. What he did to his daughter is inexcusable and she was shocked when he blurted this out in September 2007.” And sent a statement.

However, he argued that the charges against him and his mother, that is, Zarini’s grandmother, were false, saying: “I started the divorce proceedings with Ruffalo as soon as I found out about the case and began mental treatment through counseling. family”. Ruffalo’s attorney said: “I fiercely and firmly deny the charges.”

On why she decided to sue despite more than 10 years after the abuse ended, she told the NYT: “Ruffalo volunteers at a children’s hospital in Los Angeles.” “Because it could harm other children.” Said.

The Gucci family has been selling the brand for 173 years and has no connection with the current Gucci brand management.