Virgil Abloh Could Lose His Public Appeal If Controversies Continue
In the past few years, designer and entrepreneur Virgil Abloh has achieved massive success in the fashion industry. Not only did he create the famed clothing company, Off-White, but he also became the first Black Artistic Director for Louis Vuitton. Through his accomplishments, Virgil was able to achieve commercial success and admiration from colleagues. However, in recent weeks, it seems that a series of public missteps may lead to Virgil Abloh losing his public appeal.
In early June, Virgil Abloh found himself facing criticism following his comments regarding the lootings taking place after George Floyd’s murder. Abloh alluded to certain art galleries and fashion stores being vandalized and condemned the actions of those causing damage. Additionally, when discussing the destruction of an art gallery he helped create, he said the gallery “made a commitment to make something our local community could see… today that same community robbed us.” (his full comments can be found here)
Furthermore, Virgil faced backlash when he posted a photo on his Instagram story showing a donation made to help bail out protesters from jail. However, people were infuriated with the idea that Virgil had only donated 50 dollars, when his apparel sells for significantly more money. Later on, it was revealed that he was simply matching someone else’s donation, and had donated over 20,000 dollars to various Black Lives Matter organizations.
Not only were Virgil’s attempts at activism under attack, but his art was, as well. Most recently, Virgil was commissioned to create the album cover for Pop Smoke’s posthumous album, “Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon.” When the design of the album cover was revealed, Virgil Abloh received harsh criticism from fans and artists, alike. The album’s executive producer, and acclaimed rapper, 50 cent said, “Hey Virgil we need a new album cover, they ain’t goin for this bullsh*t.” Fans began posting their own artwork and even created a petition to have Virgil’s artwork changed. This petition currently has over 22,400 signatures. Due to these complaints, Virgil was forced to change the album cover.
Thus, in the period of a few weeks, Virgil’s name has infamously appeared in the news multiple times. While these clashes with the public may seem inconsequential, continuous criticism could damage Abloh’s public appeal. In an industry where popularity can push a designer to massive success, that same public force can bring them down, as well. While Virgil isn’t likely to lose his titles of Artistic Director or CEO any time soon, it will be intriguing to see how future missteps might impact his public appeal and legacy.