Kate Moss loses three more contracts over cocaine allegations

by Julia Pearlman, Brand Republic 22-Sep-05, 09:00

LONDON - Kate Moss's modelling career is in freefall this morning as three more brands, Chanel, Burberry and Gloria Vanderbilt, axed the supermodel after stories about her cocaine shame, which could cost her as much as £4m a year in lost earnings.

The latest losses will come as a huge blow to the 31-year-old model, who only yesterday learned she would be dropped from an ad campaign for Swedish fashion chain H&M, which was worth around £1m.

Chanel said it would not be renewing Moss's £750,000-a-year contract as the face of Coco Mademoiselle perfume and revealed that the contract would only run until the end of October.

The cosmetics firm denied that the axe had anything to do with the drug allegations, but gave no other details.

Burberry said it had never had a contract with the model, simply that Moss had worked on various projects, with one due for the autumn that was "mutually" decided by Moss and the fashion house would not go ahead.

Denim firm Gloria Vanderbilt added to the model's woes in a statement, saying that it had not known of Moss's "issues" before the campaign and would have second thoughts about using her again.

Although under increasing pressure to drop the star from their ad campaigns, Rimmel London, Christian Dior, H Stern and Fred Paris have so far all pledged to stand by Moss.

However, with further allegations emerging by the day, it is not expected to be long before follow suit.

This morning's papers are again full of Moss stories. The Sun claims this morning that Moss is a regular user, not just of cocaine, but of the purer and more addictive crack cocaine.

The Croydon-born model, who is believed to be worth around £30m, was splashed over the Daily Mirror last week with pictures of her apparently snorting five lines of cocaine in 40 minutes with her on/off boyfriend Pete Doherty in a West London studio.

It has also been revealed that the model will face a police investigation over allegations Moss has been taking the illegal Class A drug.

Sir Ian Blair, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, said he would be taking the allegations seriously not only because it is illegal, but due the impact it could have on impressionable youngsters.

Scotland Yard said it would need further evidence other than the grainy photographs printed by the Mirror before it would proceed.

Moss was nowhere to be seen at London Fashion Week last night where her friend Sadie Frost was launching her FrenchFrost lingerie line.

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