In September 2024, Jen made the difficult decision to speak publicly for the first time about her traumatic experiences working for Mohamed Al Fayed, the former Harrods owner. Before appearing on BBC Breakfast alongside four other women who had endured similar abuse, she had a physical reaction: she vomited in the studio’s toilets. The memories and emotions surrounding her past were overwhelming. “I wasn’t very well practiced at that point at telling my story and finding words,” Jen recalls of the moments leading up to her appearance. The interview, broadcast to millions, was a pivotal moment for Jen, who had previously only shared her story anonymously in the BBC documentary Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods.
Jen worked as Al Fayed’s personal assistant from 1986 to 1991, during which she endured sexual abuse. She had told her story under the pseudonym “Alice” in the documentary, but for this live interview, she chose to waive her anonymity, revealing her true identity to the world. The courage it took to go public with her trauma was not without its challenges, and Jen admits that the experience was terrifying. “When you do that, you lose control of your story,” she says, acknowledging the vulnerability that comes with such a public revelation.
The Women of “Stronger Together”
The women who appeared with Jen on the BBC Breakfast sofa were not just fellow survivors but, over the course of the weeks that followed, they became a support network, each helping the others through their recovery. These five women—Jen, Lindsay, Nicole, Katherine, and Gemma—had all worked for Al Fayed at different points in time, and while their experiences differed in certain details, the core of their trauma was the same: sexual harassment, abuse, and manipulation by the billionaire businessman.
For Lindsay, who was Al Fayed’s personal assistant for several months in the late 1980s, the abuse was daily, escalating to trafficking and attempted rape in Paris. She describes how, after the documentary aired, the women formed a messaging group on Signal called “Stronger Together,” where they could share their struggles, provide emotional support, and feel connected. “If we’ve got any worries, we put it on there and everyone’s got your back,” Lindsay explains. “I’m feeling much stronger because we’re part of a whole collective of fabulous, strong women.”
The solidarity they found in one another has become a cornerstone of their healing. Jen shares that while no one can truly understand what they’ve gone through except for those who have experienced it firsthand, there’s an unspoken bond among them that transcends words. “It’s almost like the unsaid,” Gemma says. “You just know what each other’s thinking.”
Breaking Silence and Building Strength
Before the documentary and the public interviews, many of the women had kept their experiences secret from even their families. Jen, for example, only told her family just before her appearance on BBC Breakfast. “It wasn’t just my family,” Jen explains. “We weren’t really allowed to be friends with one another [at Harrods], and we certainly weren’t allowed to confide in one another.”
This environment of isolation, deliberately created by Al Fayed, made it nearly impossible for the women to support each other or even share their experiences. Nicole, who worked for Al Fayed in the mid-2000s, recalls how the women weren’t permitted to communicate or form bonds, a tactic designed to keep them powerless. “We weren’t allowed to talk to each other. We weren’t allowed to share things,” Nicole says. But in the wake of the documentary, this group of women has turned their shared trauma into a source of strength. “If he were alive to see this, he’d be absolutely incandescent with rage,” Nicole adds with a sense of triumph.
Katherine, who faced harassment in 2005 while working as a senior personal assistant at Harrods, notes that many women who experienced similar abuse by Al Fayed were too scared to come forward at the time of the documentary. However, since they spoke out, more than 70 women have contacted the BBC to share their own stories of abuse, including sexual harassment, assault, and rape.
A Renewed Sense of Empowerment
For Jen, waiving her anonymity has been a transformative experience. Although the process of revisiting the painful events of her youth was initially overwhelming, it ultimately allowed her to reclaim her power. “I feel completely different now,” she says. “I feel stronger, I feel more confident. I feel like I don’t need to feel ashamed.”
The bond formed between Jen and the other survivors has not only helped them process their trauma but also empowered them to continue advocating for justice. They have become trailblazers, giving other women the courage to speak out. Jen reflects on the weeks since her live TV appearance and the support of her fellow survivors: “It’s like we’ve found a family in each other, and I know this will last for the rest of our lives.”
In a world where silence and fear often keep victims from coming forward, these women have not only found strength in each other but are helping to break the cycle of abuse. Their courage has inspired many others, and in the face of adversity, they have proven that healing and empowerment are possible.