In a rare public statement, Frank Ocean has paid tribute to the late Virgil Abloh, who died of cancer yesterday (November 28). “My family was proud of you like you were our family,” Ocean wrote in an Instagram story posted via Blonded. “I know grief is love that you don’t get to express so this is an attempt at expressing it.” Read the statement below.
In 2018 I believe it was I called V and asked him how it was possible to play hundreds of shows a year and do numerous fashion collections a year and be a father and a husband and return EVERYONE’s texts with enthusiasm and emojis and encouragement and seemingly.. with ease. I cannot remember how he responded verbatim but I’m sure it was quotable whatever he said. He was always quotable. But the gist of his response was that he was interested in living and living to the maximum extent of his level… which proved to be Impossible today because he was BEYOND.
I’ll miss you. When Ryan went to his prom you got him some pieces from your new collection at LV and he was GEEKed. Couldn’t get him to take it off. When I went to Miami and you played a set on the beach in 2016 you played White Ferrari—a song with no drums or bass anywhere to be found lol—and started a sing along. When I played you demos of shit I was working on or showed you Homer way before it was ready you put the battery in my back. When my brother passed I never said anything because it was way too much but he loved you and really looked up to you. He was going to fashion school and everything. He wanted to be a designer. My family was proud of you like you were our family. I know grief is love that you don’t get to express so this is an attempt at expressing it. Love you V. You’re a hero.
A host of other artists have paid tribute to Abloh, including Drake, Bon Iver, Justin Timberlake, and Pharrell.
