Naomi Campbell is speaking out after testifying in the war crimes trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor in which she recalled receiving, as a gift, what may have been blood diamonds at a 1997 charity dinner.
According to the Associated Press, the 40-year-old supermodel testified last week that she was gifted some "dirty looking pebbles" after the Nelson Mandela Blue Train charity event she attended with Taylor, and gave them to a South African charity the next day.
Campbell says in a statement, "I've no motive here. Nothing to gain. I am a black woman who has and will always support good causes especially relating to Africa. I've never taken any of the jobs offered to me, over my 25 years as a model, from companies that were for apartheid in South Africa."
She goes on to say, "The term 'Blood Diamond' was not in existence then and only came into the public domain in a speech by Bill Clinton in 2001 and was of course brought to the wider attention when the film of the same name was released in 2006. … These events took place 13 years ago, many years before Taylor’s alleged wrongdoings were known."
Actress Mia Farrow and model agent Carole White, who also attended the 1997 charity dinner, testified after Campbell and contradicted parts of her evidence.
Campbell's statement continues, "The events took place 13 years ago and it's not surprising that some of the people's recollections of what took place were hazy. Having said that, it was clear [that] Naomi and Mia's version of events were very similar. It should be noted that Naomi, Mia Farrow and Carole White all made it clear that they didn't really know who Taylor was or much about Liberia at the time. Hardly surprising as Taylor had only been elected a month or so previously.
"Regardless of people's recollections it's indisputable and has been confirmed by all witnesses concerned that Naomi handed over the diamonds at the first possible opportunity for the benefit of a South African children's charity."
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