The Drum Awards for Marketing - Extended Deadline

-d -h -min -sec

Saatchi & Saatchi

Charles Saatchi claims Nigella Lawson ‘was off her head on drugs’

Author

By John Glenday, Reporter

November 27, 2013 | 2 min read

Details have emerged of an email penned by Charles Saatchi to his former wife, Nigella Lawson, in which he describes the celebrity chef as being ‘… off her head on drugs’.

The explosive allegation was made ahead of the trial of two former aides to the couple, whom Saatchi accuses of using of defrauding him by improper use of a credit card to fund a lavish lifestyle.

As part of this case an email was read out from Saatchi in which he claimed that sisters Francesca Grillo and Elisabetta Grillo would ‘get off’ scot free because Lawson and her daughter Mimi were ‘so off your head on drugs’.

The full email read: “Now the Grillos will get off on the basis that you, Mimi (and another person) were so off your head on drugs you allowed them to spend whatever they liked. Yes, I believe every word they said."

Asked by police to clarify what he meant by this message, Saatchi then said: “At the time of sending the email I was completely astounded by the scale of drug use set out in the statements (from the defendants).

"Nevertheless I did believe the allegations that I'm referring to in the email.

"I have been asked whether it referred to a belief that Nigella or the children permitted the sisters to spend whatever they liked. I can't remember precisely what I had in mind.

"On reflection, I was simply speculating that the sisters would use this information to defend themselves."

The bitter court battle follows Saatchi’s acceptance of a police caution for assault after being photographed grasping Lawson’s neck at a restaurant.

Saatchi & Saatchi

More from Saatchi & Saatchi

View all

Trending

Industry insights

View all
Add your own content +