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Celebrities
Andy Gregory
Mar 21, 2021
Many social media users have been left in disbelief by Kylie Jenner’s request
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Kylie Jenner has sparked outrage online with a request for her fans to donate to a crowdfunder to pay for her stylist’s emergency surgery – despite apparently giving just $5,000 herself.
Described by Forbes as a “self-made” billionaire in 2019, who was then reportedly earning $1.2m per Instagram post, Jenner – now thought to be a multimillionaire – drew widespread disbelief after she took to Instagram Live to ask her followers to help raise $60,000 for Samuel Rauda’s treatment.
Rauda, a 26-year-old makeup artist whose clients include Jenner, Chrissy Teigen and Khloe Kardashian, is reported to have been seriously injured in a road traffic accident last weekend.
He underwent major surgery on 14 March, according to a GoFundMe page his family has since set up in a bid to cover the cost of his medical expenses.
Four days later, Jenner shared a picture of Rauda in an Instagram story and told her followers:
“May God watch over you and protect you @makeupbysamuel. Everyone take a moment to say a prayer for Sam who got into an accident this past weekend. And swipe up to visit his families’ GoFundMe.”
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Many on social media felt that given Jenner’s well-publicised extreme wealth, the request was misjudged – with some describing the move as “tone deaf”.
Others were just baffled – particularly given that her donation publicly visible on the GoFundMe page amounted to $5,000.
And many couldn’t help but compare the relevant sum to her prior purchases.
Thankfully, at the time of writing, the GoFundMe page is nearing $100,000 in donations.
“It has been a week since Sam’s accident,” his family member wrote on Saturday. “It has not been easy. In the midst of it all, Sam continues to fight, showing us how strong he truly is.
“Please continue to send prayers his way.”
Jenner has now responded to the backlash.
**This article was updated after publication to reflect that, as per Forbes, Jenner no longer appears to be a billionaire.**
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