Social media users took turns to rubbish SA rapper Riky Rick’s excitement of meeting his idol and American fashion designer, Tommy Hilfiger.
Riky Rick shared a snap of himself and the designer during the presentation of the Fall 2019 “Tommy x Lewis” collection, a collaboration between Tommy and British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton in Milan.
However fans and some celebs expressed disapproval to the snap as the designer is tagged a “racist”.
According to Fashionista, a rumor started in 1996 that Tommy had appeared on Oprah’s TV show saying that he wouldn’t have made his clothes so “nice” if he knew people of colour would wear them.
But Tommy denied the claims again in 2012 when he featured in Fern Mallis’ 92Y Fashion Icons’ series, as reported by international fashion publication WWD, and again on The Wendy Williams Show in 2016.
Despite refuting the claims, some tweeps still disapproved the designer, believing he is “fake and a racist”, while others shut down talks on Tommy being a racist and supported Riky’s meeting with his idol.
Check out different reactions below:
Isn’t He Racist?
— Lemohang 月亮 Molobi (@LemohangMolobi) September 17, 2019
Here’s Hilfiger addressing that Matter… judge for yourselves. pic.twitter.com/S4lq1XmkQR
— GIᖴT ?? ᴹᴬᴷᴼᵀᴵ (@iamGiftedstill) September 18, 2019
This is where the Tommy Hilfer racism rumours stem from. although, he did return to Oprah to refute these allegations… He’s not the only designer to have said similar things on Oprah. pic.twitter.com/VeKaXUdRQa
— say less (@Phenyo__) September 18, 2019
