Gucci heiress files lawsuit accusing stepfather of sexual abuse

Alexandra Zarini, heiress to the Gucci fashion brand, has filed a lawsuit accusing her former stepfather of sexually abusing her for 16 years.

The granddaughter of Aldo Gucci, who turned a small Italian leather goods company into a global fashion empire, filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles.

In the suit Ms Zarini, now 35, alleges that Joseph Ruffalo sexually abused her from the age of six to the age of 22.

She also alleges complicity and cover-up on the part of her mother, Patricia Gucci, and her grandmother, Bruna Palombo.

According to documents filed with the California Superior Court, Mr Ruffalo, a music manager who worked with Prince and Earth, Wind & Fire, would climb naked into bed with her when she was a child and teenager and grope her breasts and genitals, while also rubbing his penis against her body.

Ms Zarini claims that her mother was aware of the abuse, and her grandmother told her “to keep quiet and cover them up”.

She maintains that both women threatened her to keep her quiet, fearing that the scandal would tarnish the Gucci name and potentially cost them millions.

The lawsuit also alleges physical abuse on the part of her mother and that Mr Ruffalo, then still married to Ms Gucci, would “rescue” her and abuse her under the pretense of looking after her.

She also alleges that he encouraged her to use cocaine and crystal meth. 

Filing of the lawsuit coincides with the launch of Ms Zarini’s anti-child abuse charity, the Alexandra Gucci Children’s Foundation.

In a video released on YouTube , Ms Zarini says that society is failing children. She adds that the problem of child sexual abuse exists everywhere.

The lawsuit was first reported in The New York Times, which also confirmed that Ms Zarini has also filed a report with the Beverly Hills police department.

A statement emailed to the Times from Ms Gucci says: “I am deeply sorry for the pain Joseph Ruffalo caused Alexandra. What he did to her is inexcusable and I was devastated when she disclosed everything to me at our family doctor’s office in London in September 2007.”

She added: “I immediately initiated divorce proceedings against Mr. Ruffalo and set about healing my family through counseling. I am equally devastated by the allegations against me and her grandmother, which are completely false.”

Richard Crane Jr, a lawyer for Mr Ruffalo, said: “My client has not been served and has not read the complaint. Therefore, he is not aware of all of the allegations that the complaint contains. What he has been informed of, he vehemently and categorically denies.”

He continues: “While married to Alexandra’s mother, Mr Ruffalo and his wife were greatly concerned about the mental well-being of Alexandra and took steps to address her instability. Apparently, their efforts failed.”

The Gucci brand is currently owned by Kering, having been taken public by Bahrain-based Investcorp to which the Gucci family divested its final stake in 1993.