Chiara Ferragni acquitted of fraud charges in Pandoro case
Milan court cleared the influencer of aggravated fraud allegations after two years of legal proceedings. Ferragni returned to social media following the verdict.
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The Milan tribunal has acquitted digital entrepreneur and influencer Chiara Ferragni of aggravated fraud charges, concluding a two-year legal proceeding that centered on the so-called Pandoro Gate controversy.
According to court findings, the judge determined there were insufficient grounds to proceed to trial, marking a definitive closure of the case rather than a partial acquittal. Ferragni emphasized this distinction in her public statements, characterizing the decision as a complete vindication.
Following the verdict, Ferragni broke a two-year silence by posting on social media. In her statement, she described the preceding period as profoundly challenging, noting that living under continuous judgment without the ability to respond or explain had tested her deeply. She stated she had maintained confidence in her own innocence throughout the proceedings.
In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Ferragni elaborated on her experience, characterizing the two years as a time "in which everything that could go wrong went wrong." She explained that her decision to remain publicly silent during the legal process was a protective measure, as any public statement could have been used against her in court.
The influencer described the experience of being investigated and charged in a criminal proceeding as the most difficult challenge she had faced on a personal level—something she said she had never anticipated. She emphasized that the weight of the process and the inability to defend herself publicly had been emotionally taxing.
Following the acquittal, reports emerged that Ferragni may be preparing new media projects. According to Vanity Fair, a documentary series for Netflix is in development that would chronicle the Pandoro Gate case and the events of recent years. Additionally, sources indicated that Ferragni was expected to give her first television interview following the verdict, potentially on the program Che Tempo Che Fa.
An unaccredited camera was reportedly observed in the courthouse during proceedings, suggesting that filming for a documentary project may have been underway during the trial itself.
Friends and family members expressed support for Ferragni following the court's decision, with messages of solidarity circulating in response to the verdict.