Frank Ocean has shared a touching tribute to Virgil Abloh, who sadly passed away from a rare form of cancer on Sunday (Nov. 28). On Instagram, Ocean reflected on a 2018 conversation he had with the esteemed Louis Vuitton artistic director.
“… 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,” Ocean wrote. “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.”
The Blonde crafter also mentioned his younger brother Ryan, who died last year.
“When my brother passed I never said anything because it was way too much but he loved you and really looked up to you,” Ocean wrote. “He was going to fashion school and everything. He wanted to be a designer.”
Ocean concluded, “My fam 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.”
Many artists, fashion designers and other celebrities have paid tribute to Abloh since news of his death broke yesterday. As reported by REVOLT; Drake, Pharrell, Westside Gunn, Marc Jacobs and more praised the 41-year-old both as a friend and creator. According to a statement on his Instagram page, Abloh was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cardiac angiosarcoma cancer in 2019, which he “chose to endure… privately.”
“[He underwent] numerous challenging treatments, all while helming several significant institutions that span fashion, art and culture,” the statement added. “Through it all, his work ethic, infinite curiosity and optimism never wavered.”
See Ocean’s tribute to Abloh below.