Shoppers at Kitson (one of Paris Hilton’s favorite stores) can now buy a $98 hoodie featuring a graphic of a mentally ill, homeless man dancing on rollerskates. John Jermyn, nicknamed “The Crazy Robertson,” has been well-known on the street in West L.A. for 20 years.
The clothing label owners say that Jermyn prefers to be paid in “food, liquor and paper for his art projects.” Jermyn’s sister says he’s being exploited for profit.
Joel John Roberts, executive director of LA’s People Assisting the Homeless, says that branding Jermyn is “like designing a line of clothing patterned after Iraqi refugees fleeing the war.”
The currently homeless friend who emailed me the link says, “Maybe I will seriously reconsider all future modeling requests.”
My opinion? Thumbs down.
