Mega-rich reality star Kylie Jenner has been criticized for encouraging fans to help fund a celebrity makeup artist’s medical bills – but a source told Page Six that she did so believing she had covered the rest of the costs herself.
When Jenner became aware of Samuel Rauda’s request for financial aid on GoFundMe, $ 6,000 of the original $ 10,000 target had already been raised, the source said.
The “Keeping It Upset with the Kardashians” star then donated $ 5,000 of his own money to put the total above the desired amount, the source said.
Jenner then posted about Rauda – who “had major surgery” on March 14 – on social media in an effort to raise “awareness”, as Rauda is a close friend of his current makeup artist, Ariel Tejada, the source said .
She wrote in her Instagram Stories next to a photo of Rauda, “May God take care of you and protect you @makeupbysamuel, everyone take a moment to say a prayer for Sam who was in an accident last weekend. And slide up to visit your families to finance me. “
It was said that it was at this point – because Jenner had “drawn a lot of attention” to GoFundMe – that the campaign goal was raised above its original $ 10,000 request, making Jenner’s $ 5,000 donation seem small in comparison.
People criticized the CEO of Kylie Cosmetics, who has an estimated net worth of $ 900 million, for encouraging his fans to donate for their medical expenses.
“Why is Kylie Jenner asking for donations to fund her makeup artist’s surgery when she is a billionaire? a user tweeted.
Another wrote: “If I were as rich as Kylie Jenner, I simply wouldn’t ask people on the internet to donate for my best friend’s brain surgery, but we all built something different, I think!”
As of Monday, Rauda’s GoFundMe has a target of $ 120,000.
According to a social media post shared by Rauda’s friend, the young makeup artist suffered serious injuries in a car accident earlier this month.
MTV star La Demi shared that Rauda had brain surgery due to a “horrible accident” in which he “flew from a moving vehicle and hit his head on the asphalt, suffering from internal bleeding and 8 different injuries on the brain”.
The reality show added that his family needed help with “overwhelming medical expenses”.
On Saturday, Johanna Portillo, Rauda’s GoFundMe organizer, shared an update on her condition.
“We would like to extend our most sincere thanks to everyone who donated or sent prayers in support of Samuel,” wrote Portillo on the page. “We feel love and know that your continued prayers for healing are very much appreciated.”