The Epstein scandal is a complex, confusing web of characters. Jeffrey Epstein – whose recent death was ruled as suicide – was the billionaire accused of multiple crimes, including sex trafficking. Ghislaine Maxwell, his long-term companion, has also been implicated in the very serious charges, while more evidence emerges on a daily basis connecting Prince Andrew to Epstein's shadowy world (although the Palace has denied that Prince Andrew knew anything of Epstein's crimes). That doesn't seem enough for the British tabloids, however, who have decided to focus a lot of their resources on unearthing old photographs of Naomi Campbell standing near Epstein and his friends.
This week, the Mail on Sunday ran a story with the headline: 'Naomi Campbell’s VERY rum chums: As the fiery model is unexpectedly honoured for her philanthropy, how she has sometimes rubbed shoulders with a hair-raising cast of characters from Harvey Weinstein to Jeffrey Epstein and Kevin Spacey.' The story itself is really just a series of photographs of Campbell standing next to individuals who have been implicated in various scandals or criminal investigations.
In response, Campbell posted a video to her YouTube channel, in which she confirms she was introduced to Epstein on her 31st birthday. 'He was always front and centre at Victoria's Secret shows... what he's done is indefensible and when I heard of what he'd done it sickened me to my stomach like anyone else. I've had my fair share of sexual predators and thank God I had good people around me.'
In the same week that the Mail published this article, I heard a defence of Prince Andrew that suggested he needed to have rich, influential friends in order to support his 'very expensive ex-wife.' Yes, we're told, Prince Andrew may have been to Epstein's parties and been photographed with very young women associated with the investigation, but he's innocent! How was he to know what was going on? Naomi Campbell, however, must have known the intricacies of Epstein's life if she appeared in a single photograph with him. In the video, Campbell says 'I've rubbed shoulders with hundreds of thousands of people I find it extraordinary that out of all those people that I've stood next to to take a picture at a public event, they've only chosen these few.'
This is not the first time we've seen this happen, nor is it likely to be the last. When allegations against Weinstein were dominating headlines, practically any famous woman who had ever been photographed next to him was questioned. Why didn't Meryl Streep come forward and report his behaviour, even if she claimed she knew nothing about it? How dare Blake Lively have posed next to Weinstein, smiling? Nevermind the people – both women and men – who facilitated Weinstein's behaviour – who allowed it to happen. The blame fell on the shoulders of women whose only crime had been to work with him.
The Mail's article showed another layer of malice, however, when it worked to undermine Campbell's philanthropic work based on the photographs. 'I've always said I'm not a saint, that I'm a work in progress, but i will not be held hostage by my past,' says Campbell in her response. 'Fashion For Relief is something that came to my mind in 2005. We started with Hurricane Katrina, we've helped the floods in Japan. We've worked with a great association, Save The Children... it goes on. I'm not going to stop. I won't be undermined or have my team be undermined for all the wonderful and great work, and for all the people who have collaborated and supported the cause that Fashion For Relief chooses each year.'
If Prince Andrew is forgiven for his questionable choice of friends, then why isn't Campbell afforded the same luxury? Why is she held to a higher standard than a man who was clearly far more involved with Epstein than she? The answer to that question has become depressingly obvious and, until the tabloid press is taken to task for its persistent and relentless misogyny, change seems unlikely.