Naomi Campbell’s temper tantrums have become nearly as famous as her iconic supermodel career. And though the high-fashion beauty has tried and failed over the years to curb her explosive anger, in her latest interview, Campbell delves deep into her past for the cause of her violence and reveals that “abandonment issues” are at the root of the problem.
According to the U.K.’s Daily Mail, Campbell recently sat down for an interview on CNBC show “CNBC Meets,” where the venerable model was asked if her cellphone throwing days had finally come to an end.
“Work in progress. I’ve apologized, accepted responsibility, I did my community service,” replied Campbell.
Campbell was found guilty in 2000 of hitting her then-assistant with a phone and in 2007 she completed community service in New York for, ironically, assaulting her housekeeper with a customized jewel-encrusted cellphone.
Trouble seemed to continue for Campbell when she endured more legal drama in 2008 when she assaulted two police officers at Heathrow airport during a dispute about lost luggage. Campbell was subsequently banned from British Airways, who she claims hurled a racial slur at her, and was ordered to perform community service.
In the interview, the runway queen also chops it up about her past cocaine addiction, explaining that she dealt with her drug use by facing her past emotional demons.
“The challenge was to go back and face things I hadn’t dealt with, [it’s] scary for anyone to go and look at themselves in the mirror and deal with them, leave that baggage there and move forward,” explained Campbell, adding, “I didn’t feel good. I didn’t want to work. I lost many friends. I was emotionally and physically drained. I don’t look back on it in a negative way. That was my calling, my path … everyone’s path is different.”
And though Campbell doesn’t regret her troubled past (‘There’s no reason for doing that. It’s more like seeing or understanding a pattern you have to break.”), according to friend Quincy Jones, whom she considers a father figure, calling him “Poppy,” Campbell revealed to him that her troubles stem from her father abandoning her mother, Valerie, while she was still pregnant with the supermodel.
“For a long time I was trying to get to the bottom of what was bothering her,” said Jones. “Just recently I said, ‘What is really wrong?’ She said, ‘Poppy, abandonment’ … a girl has to have that relationship with her father.’ ”
“CNBC Meets Naomi Campbell” airs in the U.S on CNBC on Saturday, Oct. 1. Check local listing for more information. –nicholas robinson
