An artist fund set up to commission murals honoring 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska has drawn high-profile pledges from divisive public figures, stirring a debate over memorialization and the best use of charitable dollars.
Intercom CEO Eoghan McCabe announced on X that he would provide $500,000 in $10,000 grants to paint murals of Zarutska's face in prominent U.S. cities. His post helped prompt pledges from Elon Musk and internet personality Andrew Tate, each of whom said they would donate $1 million to the campaign, which is titled "Iryna Zarutska did not ask to be a martyr." Organizers launched a GiveSendGo fundraiser saying they will install posters and murals "so that the important conversations her slaying provokes may perpetuate and drive much needed change." The fundraiser has raised more than $91,000 in donations, not counting the pledged gifts.
The pledges come after Zarutska was fatally stabbed on a Charlotte, North Carolina, commuter train on Aug. 22. Prosecutors identified the suspect as 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., who they say approached her from behind and stabbed her. Authorities have said Brown blamed the attack on a schizophrenic episode. Video of the attack circulated widely on social media and prompted national attention and outrage.
A GoFundMe established for Zarutska's family has raised more than $351,000. Supporters and critics of the mural campaign have polarized online discussions about how best to honor Zarutska's death and support causes related to her background and circumstances.
Some backers said the murals would serve as public memorials and catalysts for conversations about violence, public safety and the experiences of refugees. Others argued that the money pledged toward murals should be redirected to humanitarian relief for Ukrainians affected by the war or to local charities supporting refugees, elderly people and children in need.
"Stop the virtue signaling and send the money to Ukrainian charities in her home country," one X user wrote. Another suggested donations go to orphanages and elderly care in Ukraine. A separate reaction on social media framed the pledges as part of a broader ideological push, urging more right-leaning patrons to fund artists outside what the commenter called a traditional patronage system.
The prominent pledges have also included commentary from the donors. McCabe wrote on X that he believes "rapid, public executions for crimes like this are a spiritual goal that we should point ourselves towards," adding that he worried about Western society if it could not react "in proportion to how evil this is." Tate, whose online presence has been marked by provocative statements, said Zarutska's death should be a "wake up call for females" and posted that reducing women's roles in government and law would solve societal problems. Musk reposted several reactions to the killing and shared posts highlighting what some users said was limited media coverage, including one post that called the attack a "disgraceful act that should never happen in America."
Those statements and the donors themselves have prompted commentary about whether the involvement of controversial figures helps or harms the memorial effort. Some artists and arts advocates welcomed funding for public art and remembrance; others said donor motives and the donors' broader political stances complicated the gesture and risked overshadowing Zarutska's life and the needs of people affected by the war in Ukraine.
Zarutska, who arrived in the United States in 2022 after fleeing the war in Ukraine, worked at Zepeddie's pizzeria in south Charlotte. Her employer posted a tribute saying she was an "incredible employee" and "a true friend," and noted that a candle had been kept burning in her memory. In an obituary, her family said she graduated from Synergy College in Kyiv with a degree in Art and Restoration, and described her as adventurous and generous with her artwork.
Prosecutors have brought charges against the accused attacker. The case and the public reaction have prompted renewed discussions about train safety, mental health, bystander intervention and how communities memorialize victims of violent crimes.
Organizers of the mural fund say the project aims to place images and posters in visible locations to sustain public conversation. As pledges and donations continue to be reported, the debate over whether murals constitute the most meaningful tribute to Zarutska is likely to persist alongside other efforts to support her family and causes tied to her homeland.