Credits: Giorgio Montersino from Milan, Italy / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 2.0.
Chiara Ferragni, the Italian influencer with nearly 30 million followers on Instagram, is going through a difficult period following a controversy surrounding a Christmas cake campaign. This situation has led to significant repercussions, including a substantial fine and the end of certain partnerships.
The fine of more than one million euros imposed on two of Chiara Ferragni’s companies stems from a campaign involving the confectionery company Balocco. This campaign sold limited-edition Christmas cakes to support research into osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma. However, it was revealed that the promised donation had already been made by Balocco long before the campaign, leading to accusations of unfair commercial practice.
Following this controversy, the Italian eyewear manufacturer Safilo announced the end of its partnership with Chiara Ferragni.
Italy’s highly conservative Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, indirectly criticized the influencer, denouncing the behavior of influencers who make money promoting luxury products while claiming to be charitable.
In response to the situation, Chiara Ferragni apologized in a video, promising to donate one million euros to the hospital involved. She admitted to a communication error and described the fine as "disproportionate and unfair." Finally, Ferragni expressed her intention to challenge the penalty.