Naomi Calls Foul on Phone Rage

Supermodel denies charges she hit housekeeper with cell phone, claims woman lied about attack as retaliation over being fired

By Gina Serpe Mar 31, 2006 7:10 PMTags

Naomi Campbell swears she didn't pull a Russell Crowe--or, for that matter, a Naomi Campbell--and bonk her former housekeeper on the head with a phone.

"The allegation that I hit or in any way injured my former housekeeper is completely untrue," the supermodel said in a statement released late Thursday.

Campbell was arrested and charged with second-degree assault in New York Thursday morning after allegedly whacking said housekeeper, Ana Scolavino, with an object--reportedly a cell phone--causing lacerations to the woman's head that required four stitches.

The catwalker has denied any wrongdoing in the incident, claiming Scolavino was attempting to retaliate for being fired for stealing.

"From the time she began working for me about two-and-one-half months ago, I began questioning her about items I found missing," Campbell continued. "This morning, when I finally fired her for that and her erratic behavior, she screamed, 'This is going to cost you a lot of money.'

"After some more yelling and screaming on her part, she left the house. The next thing I knew, I got a call from the police. I have no idea how she was injured."

Campbell, of course, has a history of employee abuse. She pleaded guilty in 2000 to hitting former personal assistant Georgina Galani over the head with a telephone. Twice. Three years later, the 35-year-old model was sued by former administrative assistant Simone Craig, who alleged Campbell not only struck Craig with a telephone during a tantrum, but also held her captive. In 2004, Campbell faced more allegations from Millicent Burton, a former maid who claimed Campbell slapped her across the face in her Park Avenue apartment. The supermodel later admitted to the fight, but said the clash was instigated by Burton.

The supermodel acknowledged her boss-from-hell past, but said that her bad temper didn't come into play this time

"[Scolavino] is sadly mistaken if she thinks she can extract money from me by concocting lies by recycling old stories," Campbell said. "I have asked my lawyer to look into filing both theft and extortion charges against her."

Among the stuff Campbell claims went missing during Scolavino's tenure were jewelry, household items and several articles of clothing, including a pair of jeans Campbell wanted to wear for an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show scheduled to tape Thursday afternoon. Campbell was forced to scuttle the Oprah taping as well as a sit-down with E! for an installment of her own True Hollywood Story.

Still, for the time being, it's only Campbell who's facing any criminal charges. She was arraigned on the assault count Thursday afternoon. Her attorney, David Breitbart, entered a plea of not guilty on her behalf. She was released on her own recognizance and ordered to pay $3,500 bail, despite Breitbart's objection that the figure was "an insult."

Breitbart said that Campbell's Park Avenue apartment alone was worth more than $3 million and that she earned "more than six figures on a regular basis."

Campbell, though, was allowed to keep her passport after Breitbart claimed she couldn't be a flight risk due to her mega-famous face.

"She is probably the most recognized and prominent model in the world," he told the judge. "There is no place she could go and not be recognized."

Campbell will get the chance to earn some more frequent flier miles: She's due in South Africa next week for a visit with Nelson Mandela.

Meanwhile, the judge issued a protective order barring Campbell from having any contact with Scolavino. The housekeeper was also ordered to turn over her keys to Campbell's apartment.

According to the complaint filed with Manhattan police, Scalovino was hit in the back of the head shortly after 8:30 a.m. while inside Campbell's apartment. She was taken to the nearby Lenox Hill hospital where she received four staples in her head to close the gash.

According to TMZ.com, NYPD recovered a cell phone from Campbell's apartment, though it remains "undetermined" if it's what struck Scolavino.

Campbell is due back in court June 27.