Designer Virgil Abloh Has Died Following a Private Battle With Cancer

Virgil Abloh, the founder and CEO of Off-White and the men’s artistic director of Louis Vuitton, has died following a private battle with cancer. He was 41.

This afternoon, a tweet from the LVMH account shared a photo of Abloh and a statement from CEO of LVMH Bernard Arnault, confirming Abloh's death.

“LVMH, Louis Vuitton and Off White are devastated to announce the passing of Virgil Abloh, on Sunday, November 28th, of cancer, which he had been battling privately for several years,” wrote Bernard Arnault, the CEO of LVMH, on Twitter. “We are all shocked after this terrible news. Virgil was not only a genius designer, a visionary, he was also a man with a beautiful soul and great wisdom. The LVMH family joins me in this moment of great sorrow, and we are all thinking of his loved ones after the passing of their husband, their father, their brother or their friend.”

A statement was also posted to Abloh's Instagram page this afternoon, which read in part:

"We are devastated to announce the passing of our beloved Virgil Abloh, a fiercely devoted father, husband, son, brother, and friend. He is survived by his loving wife Shannon Abloh, his children Lowe Abloh and Grey Abloh, his sister Edwina Abloh, his parents Nee and Eunice Abloh, and numerous dear friends and colleagues."

The Instagram post shared that Abloh had been battling "a rare, aggressive form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma."

"He chose to endure his battle privately since his diagnosis in 2019, undergoing numerous challenging treatments, all while helming several significant institutions that span fashion, art, and culture," the post continued.

"Through it all, his work ethic, infinite curiosity, and optimism never wavered. Virgil was driven by his dedication to his craft and to his mission to open doors for others and create pathways for greater equality in art and design. He often said, “Everything I do is for the 17-year-old version of myself,” believing deeply in the power of art to inspire future generations. We thank you all for your love and support, and we ask for privacy as we grieve and celebrate Virgil’s life."

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