Gemma expressed that only through her legal process did she begin to understand the severity of her experiences.

Lawyers representing numerous women have alleged that Mohamed Al-Fayed, the former owner of Harrods, raped and sexually abused them during his 25 years of ownership.

Gemma, one of the accusers, is part of a group of 37 women who held a press conference to discuss their experiences and allegations against Al-Fayed.

During the press conference on September 20, 2023, attorney Gloria Allred declared that 'the time for justice has arrived,' emphasizing the urgency of the claims.

Drummond, another attorney, stated that the system in place enabled the abuse, with some accusers requiring psychiatric care due to their experiences.

The current ownership of Harrods is addressing these historic claims of abuse and has stopped requiring victims to sign non-disclosure agreements.

Harrods has expressed its priority to resolve claims related to the historical allegations and to ensure such behavior does not happen again.

One victim described instances of unwanted physical contact, including being forcibly kissed and pulled onto Al-Fayed's lap during private meetings.

Another accuser, Natacha, claimed she underwent Aids and STD testing without consent, believing it was for her 'purity'.

Victims reported being threatened and bullied to prevent them from speaking out, indicating a culture of silence and fear surrounding the allegations.

After making her initial complaint, one woman reported being pressured to retract her statement and write a letter contradicting her claims.

Armstrong noted that the case shares common elements with those of other notorious figures, including institutional awareness of the abuse and a system to procure vulnerable women.