Bianca Gascoigne claims she was sexually assaulted by Mohamed Al Fayed - model's life and family explained
Model Bianca Gascoigne has said that she was groomed and sexually assaulted by the former Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed.
Al Fayed, who died at the age of 94 in 2023, has been accused of sexual assault and misconduct by dozens of women following a BBC documentary earlier this month. In an interview with Sky News, Bianca Gascoigne, daughter of England football legend Paul Gascoigne, has said that the former billionaire groomed and sexually assaulted her.
The 37-year-old said that she worked at Harrods from the age of 16 after going to the upscale Knightsbridge department store with her parents and coming into contact with Al Fayed. Bianca said that he would be “charming” and bring the family gifts, adding that when she took up a role within the store, she felt “safe” with the businessman.
However, Bianca has said that Al Fayed would grope her and force her to kiss him during weekly meetings. She also said that she was horrified after he turned up the Harrod Park Lane apartment he had offered her to stay in before a flight.
Bianca said: "[Al Fayed] turned up at the apartment to my shock, I was just gobsmacked, I was kind of very shell-shocked. I just didn't really know what to do, he came in and then he sat me down on the sofa... he got his privates out and got my hands and was trying to manoeuvre them on his parts.
"When that didn't work he was trying to force my head on to his lap. And I don't know how but I managed to wiggle away. And I think possibly you know, that him knowing my parents... I don't know, that might have saved me at that moment. But it was horrific."
Who is Bianca Gascoigne?
Bianca Gascoigne is model and reality show star who is best known as being the daughter of Paul and Sheryl Gascoigne, who broke up after a nine years together and a three-year marriage. Although not her biological father, the footballing legend adopted both Bianca and her brother Mason before welcoming youngest child Regan with Sheryl in 1996. Her biological father is Colin Kyle.
Bianca went on to launch a career in glamour modelling, gracing the cover of lad mags such as Loaded, FMH and Nuts from 2006 onwards. Bianca also won the first series of Love Island, and went on to appear in shows such as Celebrity Big Brother, the Italian version of Dancing With The Stars, and most recently Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
Is Bianca Gascoigne married and does she have children?
Bianca was most recently engaged to Arron Wright, with whom she welcomed her daughter, Blake Sunshine, in February 2023. The couple got anegage after their new arrival, with Arron popping the question in December 2023. However, last month, Bianca announced that the couple had split after three years together and she and daughter Blake had moved in with mum Sheryl. In a post on Instagram, she said: “After 12 weeks of me and sunshine being squashed in at my Mum’s to finally have our own space is the best feeling in the world! I wanted to say a huge thank you to my amazing Mum. Here’s to our new chapter baby girl….”