Philipp Plein Explains Why He Had Gold Helicopters Displayed During Kobe Tribute At MFW Following Backlash
While Philipp Plein has been getting praised for including a tribute to the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant during his Milan Fashion Week show, the designer is now also facing backlash for displaying helicopters on the stage, which some social media users found “disrespectful.”
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As we previously reported, Kobe lost his life following a helicopter crash in California last month. His 13-year-old daughter Gianna was also on the helicopter along with seven others. While the fashion show featured Kobe Bryant-inspired jerseys with his Lakers’ number on it, folks couldn’t get pass the gold helicopters. One fan tweeted, “Philipp Plein made two gold helicopters for his show today, which falls 27 days after Kobe died in a helicopter crash,” one person tweeted. “BUT DONT WORRY he whipped up a bunch of Swarovski Kobe jerseys (with “Plein” written on them??) so it’s cool. F—k you, Philipp.” Another said, “Distasteful, tacky & material waste.”
Apparently, Plein has provided a statement to Page Six, explaining why he had those props displayed:
“The catwalk setup was already planned and designed in November 2019, way before this tragic accident occurred,” he wrote. “This is the reason why they [sic] were gilded helicopters on the runway. I would have clearly removed them if possible, but it was too late to replace them.”
He went on to say,
”This tragedy affected myself and all the world deeply and I feel that my fashion show have [sic] been the best moment to express my respect and admiration for Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and his family,” the statement continued. “It is sad to see how something positive and constructive can be misinterpreted by people who obviously want to interpret negatively without even having a reason. As a matter of fact, I am really doing something to help and to support the foundation. Actions speak louder than words.”
Aside from this, Plein did share that the proceeds from the Kobe collection will be donated to his Mama and Mambacita Sports Foundation.
Press Play Below For More:
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