Gucci heiress Alexandra Zarini files lawsuit against ex-stepfather

Alexandra Zarini, the heiress to the Gucci empire, filed a lawsuit against her ex-stepfather, alleging that he sexually abused her for 16 years.

The lawsuit filed in the California Superior Court describes how Joseph Ruffalo, Zarini’s former step-father abused her from the age of six to 22, and mother, Patricia Gucci, covered up for his husband’s actions.

According to a report by The Guardian, Alexandra’s grandmother, Bruna Palombo, was also involved in covering up for the alleged abuser.

For starters, Ruffalo is a renowned producer in the entertainment industry who has created several movies, most of his work is about music.

The Allegation

In The New York Times, Ruffalo regularly gets into bed naked with her, fondled her, and tried to penetrate her with his hands. He also exposed his genitals to the child and rubbed it against her.

Both women, Zarinis’ mother Patricia, and grandmother Palombo, instructed the child to stay silent to cover up for the heinous crimes, fearing a possible scandal that would tarnish Gucci’s reputation that would cost them millions of dollars.

Furthermore, the lawsuit accuses Patricia of hitting her daughter multiple times. Allegedly, Ruffalo would protect the child from the mother and then abuse her on the pretense of being her protector.

Zarini also said that she knew that the abuser was in action as soon as she hears the clinking of the scotch glasses from her bedroom. She also revealed that Ruffalo indulged in hard-drugs like cocaine and crystal meth and that he would encourage her to use them.

Along with filing a 21-page lawsuit, Alexandra announced her anti-child abuse non-profit organization, to be named “Alexandra Gucci’s Children’s Foundation.”

Retaliation and Retribution

In an official statement, Patricia apologized for her actions and letting Ruffalo traumatize her daughter like that.

“What he did to her is inexcusable, and I was devastated when she disclosed everything to me at our family doctor’s office in London in September 2007. I immediately initiated divorce proceedings against Mr. Ruffalo and set about healing my family through counseling,” she said.

However, she also denied the allegations made by her daughter against her and her mother. She said that the allegations were completely false, and she was equally devastated that Zarini would make such public comments about her.

Richard Crane, Ruffalo’s lawyer, said that his client has not been served with legal papers and could not respond directly to the allegations. Crane denied every accusation on behalf of Ruffalo.

Image courtesy of Cineberg/Shutterstock
