In the hours following the tragic passing of American fashion designer Kate Spade, loads of fans and industry names have offered their condolences via social media.
Among the many was apparel designer Kenneth Cole who paid his respects by calling the late visionary an “inspiring accessory” on Twitter.
In the now-deleted tweet, Cole wrote:
“‘I believed that I could, so I did’. She alone didn’t change the handbag world but she was an inspiring accessory. #KateSpade #RIP.”
The founder of Kenneth Cole Productions was instantly met with heavy backlash from fans who took to Twitter to call out his insensitive words.
https://twitter.com/TheKitchenFile/status/1004057157229207552
Did…you really just call her an accessory?
— Loryn Brantz (@LorynBrantz) June 5, 2018
Wow I didn’t realize Kenneth Cole is a delusional narcissistic piece of shit https://t.co/v0VaKA1vfk
— Danielle ✨🌑🌞 (@starsmoonandsun) June 5, 2018
sad that a man with all your talents in the fashion world could be so unsympathetic to such a tragic loss… shame on you @kennethcole your remarks about the tragic death of kate spade are truly disgusting.
— 💋 bdc$donna 💋 (@bdcdonna) June 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/lannon787/status/1004104737245917185
After deleting his tweet, Cole posted a heartfelt reworded version of his original sentiment.
Kate Spade left an indelible mark on the fashion industry and her inspiring life and work will be missed. We lost a true visionary today. My heart goes out to her family and to all she has touched.
— Kenneth Cole (@kennethcolereal) June 5, 2018
Despite his attempt at backtracking, fans of the late designer continued to blast him for his tone-deaf tweet.
Nice backpedaling. Your original tweet sounded like jealousy to me. You haven’t been relevant since the 90s.
— carla 🌻 (@carladidaa) June 5, 2018
Saw your first tweet on her.. You must have that foot in mouth disease that a lot of people have lately… 🤔
— Jenn Brown (@jennbrown74) June 5, 2018
Your first tweet was vile.
— Sharon Hanley (@sharonlhanley) June 5, 2018
Your first tweet was disgusting! – no room for misinterpretation there!!!! – Try and be kind Pls
— Sammy PY (@justsaying_99) June 5, 2018
Too late, douche
You’re an unnecessary accessory.— DRB ♎🌴 (@DRBVGB) June 5, 2018
ICYMI: The 55-year-old whose line of handbags and accessories achieved massive success across the globe was found dead in her Park Avenue apartment on Tuesday.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot F. Shea said it appears Spade took her own life. An investigation is under way.
Spade was celebrated for her designs, which combined colour and practicality, and offered a fresh alternative to products from lauded European fashion houses.
In particular, Spade was recognised for injecting levity and personality into her work in a way that innovated the broader fashion industry.
Speaking to CNN, former editor-in-chief of Glamour magazine Cindi Leive said “everybody wants to create their own personal lifestyle brand, but that was new at the time, and in a lot of ways, the contemporary version of it really came from her.”
— kate spade new york (@katespadeny) June 5, 2018
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