Off White designer, Virgil Abloh came under heavy criticism after he revealed that he had donated just $50 to the Fempower organization’s bail fund.
Virgil uploaded a screenshot to his Instagram Stories — and fans could not believe their eyes. A pair of socks from his Off White clothing brand costs $110.
Abloh also shared a video of Sean Wotherspoon’s Round Two Vintage store being looted.
“You see the passion, blood, sweat and tears Sean puts in for our culture. This disgusts me,” he wrote alongside the video.
“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. We’re a part of a culture together. Is this what you want?? When you walk past him in the future please have the dignity to not look him in the eye, hang your head in shame….”
The designer later issued an apology:
“I apologize that my comments yesterday appeared as if my main concerns are anything other than full solidarity with the movements against police violence, racism, and inequality,” his statement read. “I want to update all systems that don’t address our current needs. It has been my personal MO in every realm I touch.”
He continued, “Yesterday I spoke about how my stores and stores of friends were looted. I apologize that it seemed like my concern for those stores outweighed my concern for our right to protest injustice and express our anger and rage in this moment.”
“I also joined a social media chain of friends who were matching $50 donations. I apologize that appeared to some as if that was my only donation to these important causes,” he shared adding that he had “donated $20,500 to bail funds and other causes related to the movement.”
“I will continue to donate more and will continue to use my voice to urge peers to do the same,” he writes. “I was on the fence about publicizing total dollar amounts because I didn’t want to look like I’m glorifying only higher amounts or that I want to be applauded for it. If you know me, you know that’s not me.”