Why Kylie Jenner only gave $5K to makeup artist’s GoFundMe
Mega-wealthy reality star Kylie Jenner came under fire for encouraging fans to help fund a celebrity makeup artist’s medical bills — but a source told Page Six she did so believing she had covered the remainder of the costs herself.
By the time Jenner had become aware of Samuel Rauda’s request for financial help on GoFundMe, $6,000 of the original $10,000 goal had already been raised, the source said.
The “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” star then donated $5,000 of her own money to put the total over the desired amount, the source said.
Jenner then posted about Rauda — who “underwent major surgery” on March 14 — on social media in an effort to raise “awareness” since Rauda is a close friend of her current makeup artist Ariel Tejada, the insider said.
She wrote on her Instagram Stories alongside a picture of Rauda, “May God watch over you and protect you @makeupbysamuel everyone take a moment to say a prayer for Sam who got into an accident this past weekend. And swipe up to visit his families go fund me.”
We’re told it was at this point — because Jenner had “brought a lot of attention to” the GoFundMe — that the campaign’s goal was increased above its original $10,000 request, making Jenner’s $5,000 donation appear small in comparison.
People blasted the Kylie Cosmetics CEO, who has an estimated net worth of $900 million, for encouraging her fans to donate for his medical expenses.
“Why is kylie jenner asking for donations to fund her makeup artist’s surgery when she’s a billionaire,” one user tweeted.
Another wrote, “If I was as rich as Kylie Jenner I simply wouldn’t ask ppl on the internet to donate for my best friend’s brain surgery but we all built different i guess!”
As of Monday, Rauda’s GoFundMe has a goal of $120,000.
According to a social media post shared by Rauda’s friend, the young makeup artist sustained serious injuries in a car accident earlier this month.
MTV star La Demi shared that Rauda had brain surgery due to an “awful accident” in which he “flew off of a moving vehicle crushing his head into the pavement, suffering from internal bleeding and 8 different injuries to his brain.”
The reality star added that his family needed help with the “overwhelming medical expenses.”
On Saturday, Johanna Portillo, the organizer of Rauda’s GoFundMe, shared an update on his condition.
“We would like to extend our most sincere thanks to each and everyone who has donated or sent prayers in support of Samuel,” Portillo wrote on the page. “We have felt the love and know that your continued prayers for healing are very much appreciated.”
