Fact Check: Does BLACKPINK Lisa’s Rumored Boyfriend’s Family Donate $120 Million To Israel Yearly?
While it has not been confirmed, many online are convinced that BLACKPINK‘s Lisa is in a relationship with Frédéric Arnault, the CEO of Tag Heuer and son of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE founder and CEO Bernard Arnault.
Recently, the star all but confirmed the relationship in an unreleased track, sparking mixed reactions from netizens.
BLACKPINK’s Lisa All But Confirms Relationship With Frédéric Arnault In Unreleased Song
Amongst the negative reactions were claims about the Arnault family’s alleged monetary support for Israel. One viral tweet claimed that the Arnault family donates 120 million USD each year to the Israeli forces.
We should talk more about this btw pic.twitter.com/vwF7NzfELk
— . (@KPOP_FLOP_) September 30, 2024
The Israeli armed forces have been heavily criticized for their actions taken in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 43 thousand, a majority of which were innocent civilians. This has led to an increased number of boycotts against any brand or person who shows support for Israel’s actions.
But is the claim about the Arnault family true?
When checking boycott sites, LVMH appears on several, with it being advised that the brands have “shown support.”
In the case of the brand most affiliated with LMVH, Louis Vuitton, there has been no official statement of support. The brand took heat in early 2024, with over an 800 USD shirt featuring the imagery of a watermelon, a known symbol representing Palestine.
The actual reasoning for these boycotts seemed connected to actions taken by Arnault himself. In 2021, the CEO invested an unstated amount in a company called Wiz through Aglaé Ventures, his tech-focused venture firm and family office.
Wiz is an Israeli cloud security company, and the announced financial support, which included contributions from Arnault, Salesforce, and Blackstone, totaled 120 million USD. The company’s founders also includes cybersecurity veterans from the Israel Defense Forces.
It also seems that Arnault made a personal investment in another round in 2023.
LVMH Luxury Ventures, another investment company, is also known to have invested in Lusix, an Israeli jewelry company in 2022. This contribution amount was also not publicly stated, with the brand sharing that LVMH participated in a round with other investors that raised 90 million USD.
So, while it does not appear that the Arnaults directly donate millions each year to Israeli forces, LVMH and Bernard Arnault have made contributions to Israeli companies. For boycotters, this can be viewed as a show of support for Israel through its industries as the conflict in the region has go on much longer than recent coverage may suggest.
