Yeezy, the apparel company wholly owned by rap star Kanye West, received between $2 million and $5 million (all figures U.S.) in small business loans from the U.S. government, the U.S. Treasury revealed Monday.
West’s company made close to $1.3 billion last year, according to Forbes.
The funds came from the Trump administration’s Paycheck Protection Program in response to the COVID-19 lockdown. According to documents, Yeezy – described as a “Black” business – needed help to save 106 jobs.
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West, who has been an outspoken supporter of U.S. president Donald Trump since he was elected in 2016, recently announced a Yeezy partnership with Gap. The rapper also claimed to be running for U.S. president.
Across the pond, former Spice Girl star Victoria Beckham took heat in April for taking financial aid from the UK government for her fashion label even though she and husband David Beckham are estimated to be worth more than half-a-billion dollars.
Singer Ed Sheeran’s rep said he would not take any public money to continue to pay the 10 employees of his Bertie Blossoms restaurant in London, which has been closed since March due to the pandemic.