Who is James Jacobson and what was his role within Abercrombie & Fitch?
JAMES Jacobson allegedly “groomed” young adult men for sex with Abercrombie & Fitch ex-CEO Mike Jeffries, it has been claimed.
The BBC‘s Panorama reports that Mike Jeffries and his British partner Matthew Smith used Jacobson to find young adult men for sex events at Jeffries’ New York pad and at luxury hotels across the world.
Jeffries and Smith did not respond to requests for comment.
But Jacobson denied any wrongdoing – and said men entered the reported events “with their eyes wide open”.
Here’s everything you need to know about Jim Jacobson and his role within Abercrombie & Fitch.
Who is James Jacobson or ‘Jim’?
Eight men said they were recruited for Mike Jeffries’ sex events by James Jacobson, known as Jim.
Jacobson allegedly propositioned or sexually “auditioned” men by requesting or offering to perform oral sex.
Alleged victims David Bradberry and Barrett Paul described how Jacobson wore a distinctive snakeskin patch over his nose – which he said had been mangled in a botched plastic surgery.
Bradberry said: “He was selling fame, and the price was compliance.
“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.
“It should have been a red flag. I wanted to believe this was an opportunity to meet someone who could make all my dreams come true.”
Jacobson allegedly told Bradberry to dress in Abercrombie & Fitch clothes for the event.
The men were reportedly given detailed instructions about the events – with no mention of the sex acts expected of them.
Paul said: “It’s just so f***ed up.”
A personal “groomer” was allegedly hired to shave some of the men’s intimate body hair – an experience Paul said was “dehumanising”.
The men were allegedly required to sign non-disclosure agreements and were reportedly supervised during sex acts by staff wearing Abercrombie & Fitch uniform.
Breaking down in tears, Paul said: “I didn’t say no. I didn’t say yes either. I didn’t have control.”
Brad Edwards, the attorney for some of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims, said the NDAs were “the work of the powerful to control the vulnerable”.
Bradberry also claimed that Jacobson “groomed” him for further exploitation by targeting his “self-esteem” – telling him he was not “catalogue ready”.
What was James Jacobson’s relationship to Mike Jeffries?
The men said they were told that Jacobson was the gatekeeper to the “owners” of Abercrombie & Fitch.
It is claimed that Jacobson would pay recruiters between $500 and $1,000 for every young adult man they found for him.
He allegedly sent photos of the men to Jeffries and his partner Matthew Smith after reportedly demanding sexual favours in a “test run”.
What was James Jacobson’s involvement in Abercrombie & Fitch?
Jacobson did not hold a formal role with Abercrombie & Fitch despite his alleged work for Jeffries and Smith.
Jeffries reportedly held sex events in New York, London, Paris, Venice. Morocco and the Caribbean.
It is alleged that Jeffries funded the whole operation including referral fees.
Edwards and another legal expert called for an investigation to determine whether sex trafficking charges should be brought.
He said: “It has the hallmarks of a coercive sexual encounter.
“The events described by the men could be sex trafficking.”
The brand said it was “appalled and disgusted” by the pair’s alleged behaviour.