Virgil Abloh Has Died at Age 41

Virgil Abloh has died at age 41, according to a statement posted on LVMH's official Twitter account confirming the news on Nov. 28. "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," a statement from LVMH chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault read. "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."

Since 2019, Virgil privately battled a rare, aggressive form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma, according to a statement posted on his official Instagram account. "Through it all, his work ethic, infinite curiosity, and optimism never wavered," the statement read. "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."

In 2018, Virgil made history as the first Black man to ever take the helm of a French luxury fashion house. He is survived by his wife, Shannon Abloh, and his children, Lowe Abloh and Grey Abloh.