The boss of Pride in London has been sacked after allegedly spending £7,000 of donated vouchers on luxury perfumes and Apple products.
Christopher Joell-Deshields was let go after an investigation was launched into allegations of misuse of company funds, financial mismanagement, and a failure to safeguard volunteers against bullying.
He had been CEO since 2021 and was often seen rubbing shoulders with celebrity supporters such as Naomi Campbell – but was suspended accused of using vouchers donated by a sponsor to purchase luxury products.
Whistleblowers claimed he had spent £7,125 of vouchers intended for volunteers on items including an Apple HomePod speaker, Apple AirPod earphones and colognes including Creed Aventus, which retails from £165.
The pattern of the purchases suggested they were for ‘personal – rather than organisational – benefit’, the whistleblowers said.
It was reported that he was being paid his full £87,500 salary whilst suspended, prior to his dismissal at the end of last month. He has denied any wrongdoing.
In a statement, Pride in London’s board of management said Mr Joell-Deshields is ‘no longer employed by or affiliated with London LGBT Community Pride’ – the community interest company that runs the annual event.
He appealed against the decision, but it was subsequently upheld by an independent reviewer. Pride did not say whether it had found the allegations against him proved.
The organisation said: ‘In September 2025, the London LGBT Community Pride Board (trading as Pride in London) commissioned an independent investigation into allegations relating to Christopher Joell-Deshields’ conduct while he was CEO of Pride in London, prior to his suspension by the Board on 29th August 2025.
‘Following the findings of the independent investigation, his employment has been terminated. This decision has been reviewed and upheld by an independent counsel following an appeal process.’
It has appointed Rebecca Paisis as interim CEO, who said in a statement that she was focused on ‘delivering another safe and successful event and leading the organisation with integrity.’
Pride in London declined to comment further when approached by the Mail today. Mr Joell-Deshields was contacted for comment.
He remains in a legal dispute with the organisation after he was accused of trying to frustrate the investigation.
In September, a High Court judge granted an injunction against the former Pride boss, requiring him to hand back control of Pride’s operational systems and bank accounts, and work equipment he had been given.
It served to effectively block him from speaking on Pride’s behalf. However, he continued to tell the press that he remained CEO regardless.
Companies House records show his control of the company was cut off on August 27 2025.
He previously told the Guardian: ‘The current legal and governance matters relate to the organisation itself.
‘These matters are being addressed through the appropriate channels, and it would be inappropriate to litigate them in the press.
‘Nothing in this statement should be interpreted as an admission of any allegation, nor does it comment on any other individual.’
However, he appeared in court in January accused of two counts of contempt of court for failing to comply with the order.
He admitted one count of contempt for failing to provide a signed statement confirming he had returned property.
However, his representatives said he had not returned a company laptop as it was bought for him after his own personal laptop was damaged while it was being used for work.
It is understood that Pride in London bosses eventually regained access to their systems and accounts.
The BBC reports that lawyers for Pride in London returned to court on March 27, alleging that company property including a laptop had not been returned seven months after he was asked to hand them back.
The High Court made an order to find in Pride’s favour if he does not file a defence in the next two weeks.
Pride is expected to go ahead as normal in July. The event costs upwards of £1million to run each year, largely funded by corporate sponsors who pay up to £8,500 to enter a float into the parade, which is watched by over a million people.
It also receives £125,000 from the Greater London Authority – the office of the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan – for the Pride parade each year.
However, it is thought that cutbacks in diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have presented a challenge for Pride events.
Liverpool Pride was cancelled last year amid financial pressures before being relaunched on a smaller scale, while Manchester Pride entered liquidation in 2025 owing £70,000 to performers and £1.3million to suppliers.
Pride in London was also targeted by pro-Palestine protesters last year.
Activists threw red paint on the lead float in the parade in protest at the event’s sponsorship by firms they said were linked to Israel’s military action in Gaza.
