Virgil Abloh, one of the most renowned fashion designers of today, is speaking out to make a clarification about the donations he has made to Black Lives Matter causes.
The Louis Vuitton menswear designer faced backlash after he posted a screencap of the $50 donation he made to the (F)EMPOWER Community Bond Fund amid the George Floyd protests.
Many people felt that someone like Abloh, who designs socks that cost $60, should be donating more than just $50 to an important cause like this.
Abloh took to his Instagram account on Monday night (June 1) to share a lengthy statement in which he talked about his experiences as a black man and then apologized for his earlier comments on social media.
“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. 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 wrote. “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 continued. He later added, “The donation I posted last night was in solidarity with a group of Miami friends chain-posting about coming together for their local community. I can understand your frustration if you think my contributions were limited to $50. Purely false when it comes to the total. I have donated $20,500 to bail funds and other causes related to this movement.”
Virgil says he plans to continue to donate and use his voice. You can read the full statement by swiping through the slides of the Instagram embed.
