High-end fashion director Virgil Abloh has been slammed on social media after donating £40 to a protesters bail fund as tensions continue to rise across the United States.
People have been protesting since George Floyd, a black man, was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis.
Social media users were quick to point out that £40 wouldn’t cover the cost of a pair of socks from Off White, a company ran by Virgil.
Virgil, 39, took to his Instagram page to share a screenshot of a donation to (F)EMPOWER Community Bond Fund in Miami, Florida.
Alongside his screenshot, he penned: “The Miami community – I’m crazy inspired.
The designer posted a screenshot of a $50 donation to a Miami bail fund, infuriating social media users (Image: xxxxxxxxxxx)
“For kids in the streets that need a bail funds [sic] for George Floyd protests.
“Matching the local energy,” before tagging five pals.
Taking to Twitter, social media users instantly vented their fury over the donation.
One user said: “Virgil Abloh runs a brand called Off White and is the newly appointed head of Louis Vuitton. off white socks cost $110 a pair and he donated only $50 to a bail fund.”
Twitter users pointed out that Virgil’s donation wouldn’t cover the cost of socks from his brand (Image: GC Images)
A second went on to add: “Virgil Abloh, well known black fashion designer, CEO & founder of Off White a brand that has collaborated with big names such as Nike, Louis Vuitton, etc. Donated only $50 for charity. TO PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE HIS F***ING SOCKS ARE WORTH MORE THAN HIS DONATION!!”
“@virgilabloh you’re a clown. As the creator of Off White and the Artistic Director of Louis Vuitton, you proud of just donating $50… That can’t even get you a pair of socks from Off White,” penned a third.
The Illinois-born designer has since hit out at criticism in a now-deleted post.
He revealed that he was matching donations from friends as part of a chain campaign.
He later revealed that his public donation was to match a chain donation with friends (Image: xxxxxxxxxxx)
Abloh penned: “More light before a narrative forms around false assumptions, the $50 donation described in a recent screenshot was part of a matching funds movement of friends I follow in my timeline.”
His post came after he called out looters who had damaged businesses he was connected to.
Commenting on damage to a Los Angeles store that stocks his designs he said: “This is f****d up. You see the passion blood sweat and tears Sean puts in for our culture. This disgusts me.
“To the kids that ransacked his store and RSVP DTLA, and all our stores in our scene just know, that product staring at you in your home/ apartment right now is tainted and a reminder of a person I hope you aren’t.”
American model Chrissy Teigen recently announced that she intended on donating £160,000 to assist bail funds.
Daily Star Online has reached out to a spokesperson for Virgil.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
