Local clothing brand Amakipkip will remove late rapper AKA’s merchandise from its stores and issue an apology to his family.
This after the brand received backlash for selling T-shirts bearing the rapper’s face without consulting with the family or getting permission to do so.
The T-shirts, which were posted on Amakipkip’s social media pages, were also advertised for R600 at its Pretoria store.
AKA, born Kiernan Forbes, was gunned down outside the now closed Wish restaurant in Durban early in February.
Sunday World understands that the representatives from Amakipkip were locked in a meeting with the rapper’s family on Tuesday.
His lawyer Rudolph Baloyi of Rudolph Baloyi Inc said: “The meeting is still under way. They have agreed to apologise and remove the merchandise.”
Baloyi said a public statement will be issued later in the day.
The brand also received criticism from AKA’s brother Stephan and the late rapper’s girlfriend Nadia Nakai.
Nakai wrote on her social media that the brand is acting like parasites.
“We as The Megacy do not approve or condone Amakipkip’s recent behaviour of thieving from AKA’s death,” wrote Nakai.
“We have it on good accord that even the family was never approached about Amakipkip’s merch production.
“We ask that the brand please take all their advertisement posts down and also remove the merch from their clothing line.
“Failure to do so, the brand will be met with ruthless scrutiny. As The Megacy, we will never sit by and watch anyone play on our idol’s legacy. We are his army and we will always be here to serve and protect at all costs.”
Amakipkip were not immediately available for comment.
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