Italian influencer Chiara Ferragni has been acquitted of aggravated fraud charges by a Milan court, closing a two-year legal battle over a controversial charity cake campaign.
At a Glance
- A judge cleared Ferragni on Jan. 14 after prosecutors sought one year and eight months in prison
- The case centered on 2022 Pandoro cakes that promised hospital donations but only yielded a single €50,000 payment
- Ferragni has paid €3.4 million in settlements related to multiple charity-linked product investigations
- Why it matters: The verdict ends a high-profile case that tested influencer accountability for charity marketing claims
The 38-year-old fashion influencer, who rose to fame via her 2009 blog and became the first fashion blogger to grace Vogue‘s cover in 2015, faced scrutiny after partnering with Italian food company Balocco on limited-edition Christmas cakes. Packaging and her social posts claimed both she and Balocco “support the Regina Margherita hospital in Turin,” implying purchases would trigger donations.
Italy’s Competition Authority (AGCM) sanctioned Ferragni in 2023, ruling the messaging misled consumers because Balocco had already made a fixed €50,000 donation unrelated to sales volume.
During a November pre-trial hearing, the Milan Prosecutor’s Office requested the prison sentence, according to reports cited by News Of Losangeles. The case alleged aggravated fraud tied to the cake campaign.
In a Jan. 15 Instagram statement, Ferragni wrote, “Today I am not celebrating a victory. Today I am closing a chapter.” She acknowledged making “a mistake” but emphasized she “corrected it” and “apologized,” adding there was “neither an economic nor a common-sense reason for me to deceive anyone.”
The influencer first addressed the controversy in a 2024 video, calling allegations “disproportionate and unfair” and labeling the issue “a communication error.” She pledged to donate her €1 million Balocco fee to the hospital.
Ferragni described the past two years as “anything but simple,” writing, “Living under constant judgement, without being able to respond, without being able to explain, puts you to a deep test.”
Financial settlements have already been substantial. By the end of 2024, Ferragni had paid:
- €1 million to Regina Margherita hospital
- €1 million fine to AGCM
- €1.2 million to a children’s charity over Easter egg antitrust issues
Her company stated in May 2024 it would “refrain from carrying out operations in which commercial activities are connected to charitable activities.”
Throughout 2024, Ferragni maintained a lower social media profile before resuming luxury brand partnerships and magazine covers. She rang in 2025 in Colombia, sharing posts from the trip earlier this month.
The acquittal removes the threat of criminal penalties, though regulatory and civil settlements have already cost the influencer millions.
