David Geffen shared with his 87,000 Instagram followers his escape to the Grenadines on his reported $590 million yacht to avoid the coronavirus pandemic — posts that created enough backlash among shocked onlookers that he has made his account private.
Though the philanthropist and entertainment mogul regularly shares photos of his yacht, Rising Sun, on his social media accounts, many found Saturday’s posts particularly tone-deaf, as Americans are struggling with unemployment, healthcare workers are begging for support and small businesses are faced with the possibility of shutting down as they may face months of no customers and revenue.
One of the captions included, “Sunset last night…isolated in the Grenadines avoiding the virus. I’m hoping everybody is staying safe.”
Shortly after, several Twitter users expressed their discontent with the magnate’s photos, with some questioning why he wouldn’t offer to use his 138-meter yacht to help house patients.
Thanks, David Geffen, for your thoughts. pic.twitter.com/5XTRhGX5OP
— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) March 28, 2020
David Geffen’s thought process: "Hey you know what, millions are losing their jobs, can’t pay their rent and they’re worried about a deadly pandemic, I bet they’d love to know how I’m doing. Fire up the copter so we can take some more pics of my yacht! They’ll love this!!!" ? pic.twitter.com/yby7xOjb8C
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) March 28, 2020
Vis a vis David Geffen…
Here's a good rule: if you post a picture of your yacht during this time, you have to announce charitable contributions that equal or exceed the value of said yacht in the same post.
Also if Congress could vote remote they could pass this into law.
— Todd Schulte (@TheToddSchulte) March 28, 2020
Geffen, who co-founded DreamWorks and Asylum Records, has an estimated net worth of $7.7 billion, according to Forbes.
The yacht in question was a reported $590 million purchase that Geffen made from Larry Ellison, the founder of Oracle, that has become a party spot for Hollywood’s rich and famous.
A publicist for Geffen could not immediately be reached by TheWrap for comment.