During the “In Memoriam” tribute for those in the music industry who have died in the past year, fans were quick to spot the “disrespectful” title that the Academy gave iconic fashion designer Virgil Abloh.

Over Virgil’s career, which expanded several decades, he served as the artistic director for Louis Vuitton menswear where he was the first Black man to be in that position, he was also the CEO and founder of the Milan-based fashion house Off White, worked with international sportswear brand Nike designing custom sneakers, performed as an international DJ, and designed album art covers for many hip-hop artists including friend and frequent collaborator Kanye West. Virgil’s contributions to bridging the gap between streetwear and luxury clothing earned him the title as one of Time‘s Most Influential People in the world in 2018, the same year he began working for Louis Vuitton.

After all of his successes, fans were upset that Virgil’s legacy was reduced to being a “hip-hop fashion designer.”

Take a look at fans comments below:

• 1.

  The Grammys calling Virgil Abloh a “hip-hop designer” does not sit right with me. At all.

  — Kea (@jacquemusx) April 4, 2022

• 2.

  Minimizing Virgil Abloh to a “Hip-Hop Fashion Designer” is nasty behavior. Whoever at the Grammys that’s responsible, you’re not seeing heaven.

  — Ronald Isley (@yoyotrav) April 4, 2022

• 3.

  https://twitter.com/jeffcarvalho/status/1510942068063023104

• 4.

  Not the Grammys calling Virgil Abloh a "Hip Hop Fashion Designer" I expect nothing from them and somehow they still let me down, talk about disrespect.

  — K (@imthespecialk) April 4, 2022

• 5.

  https://twitter.com/steeztalkscrap/status/1510814020575629312

• 6.

  very disrespectful for the grammys to call virgil abloh a “hip hop fashion designer”… the micro aggressive racism we see in fashion and entertainment today still baffles me

  — 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞 (@arxhiiie) April 4, 2022

• 7.

  https://twitter.com/thefdwshow/status/1510830113100808196

• 8.

  Virgil Abloh, one of the best fashion designers of all time. Designed for Louis Vuitton, off white, etc. Changed the way many people see fashion only for the Grammys to box him into a “hip hop fashion designer” phrase. Nah these people are actually insane

  — Adonis Deuce (@031Deuce) April 4, 2022

• 9.

  . @RecordingAcad really referred to Virgil Abloh as a “Hip Hop designer” as if he wasn’t designing for 2 of the biggest brands in the world. I have questions. pic.twitter.com/oEKyJrYJS7

  — L.A.N.K. - LET A NAYSAYER KNOW (@theeJAISTER) April 4, 2022

• 10.

  https://twitter.com/Jemlaxy/status/1510815082636214275

• 11.

  Why did the Grammys call Virgil Abloh a 'hip hop fashion designer'?
  
  He was the head of LV.
  
  A fashion designer. Visionary.
  
  Do better.

  — Bart (@TheSzef) April 4, 2022

• 12.

  Virgil Abloh was a pioneer period. Not a “hip-hop fashion designer” smh grammys

  — ꪗ᥇ꫀᦓ (@ybes_prince) April 4, 2022

• 13.

  Now I’ve had my critiques on Virgil Abloh, but I can’t believe that the Grammys would call themselves paying tribute to Virgil Abloh by calling the artistic director of one of the world’s leading international fashion houses a “hip hop fashion designer”

  — Staccato L'ouverture 🇭🇹 (@Staccato_Lo) April 4, 2022

• 14.

  The Grammys calling Virgil Abloh a “hip hop fashion designer” is insanity

  — PROLIFIC 🥀⛓️ (@prolific860) April 4, 2022

• 15.

  https://twitter.com/SowmyaK/status/1510805994925928450

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