The Recording Academy Faces Backlash after Labelling Virgil Abloh a “Hip-Hop Fashion Designer”

IMAGE – Christian Vierig/Getty Images

Over the weekend, The Recording Academy paid tribute to the late Virgil Abloh. However, they immediately faced backlash for labelling the prolific innovator as a “hip-hop fashion designer” during the Grammys “In Memoriam” segment.⁠

Fans immediately took to Twitter to express their disapproval of the label and reminded The Recording Academy that he was more than just a designer. In addition, the specific use of “hip-hop” in this context amplifies the racial stereotype of Black people in the music industry and beyond, a situation akin to when The Recording Academy used the term “urban” in its award categories.

The way that everyone is collectively so angry about “Virgil Abloh, hip hop fashion designer” like HOW did that even get approved by multiple people????
— LOUIS (@LOUIS_via_ROMA) April 4, 2022

Calling Virgil Abloh a “Hip-Hop Fashion Designer” is insanely disrespectful and blindly ignorant… do better pic.twitter.com/zHXLhZB6vv
— Debating Hip-Hop / Future AOTY (@DebatingHipHop_) April 4, 2022

“This some racist shit. He was the creative director for LV bro and had an architectural degree wtf. This some B.S “, – hugo2turnt Via Instagram