Andrew Tate Joins Elon Musk in Donating $1 Million Each to Fund Murals Honoring Iryna Zarutska Across U.S. Cities
When I first read about Iryna Zarutska’s story, I felt the same heaviness that so many others did. A 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who came to America hoping for safety, only to lose her life in a random and brutal attack on Charlotte’s light rail, her name has now become a symbol of grief, outrage, and remembrance. Her death left behind shockwaves across communities, with vigils held in her honor and thousands of people demanding accountability. But alongside the mourning, something unexpected has started to happen—an outpouring of public tributes backed by some of the most well-known figures in the world.
It started with Elon Musk. In the early hours of the morning, reports spread that Musk had pledged $1 million to support murals of Iryna in major U.S. cities. The announcement sparked a mix of disbelief and gratitude, as the idea of seeing her image across public walls felt like a way to keep her memory alive in a powerful and permanent way. Almost immediately, social media filled with sketches and mock-ups of what those murals could look like, and conversations shifted from anger to something closer to hope.
Now, Andrew Tate has stepped forward with his own pledge, matching Musk’s contribution with $1 million of his own. The controversial figure, who commands a massive online following, made headlines by joining the tribute movement. His donation pushes the total to $2 million, a staggering sum that shows just how large the support for Iryna’s remembrance has become. For many, the fact that two men from such different worlds—one a tech billionaire, the other an internet personality—have both chosen to give toward the same cause makes the tribute even more remarkable.
There is something haunting and beautiful about the thought of murals rising across cities from coast to coast. Imagine someone walking home from work, pausing at the sight of Iryna’s face painted in bold colors on a building wall. For them, it might be the first time hearing her story, or a moment to reflect on the fragility of life, or even just a reminder of the importance of compassion in public spaces. Public art has always been a way to keep memory alive, to take something deeply personal and make it universal. That is what this $2 million movement now represents.
Of course, money and murals cannot bring Iryna back. Her family and community will carry this loss for the rest of their lives. But what Musk and Tate’s contributions have done is transform the conversation. Instead of being defined only by grief and anger, Iryna’s name is now tied to something lasting and visible. Instead of fading into a headline, her story has the chance to live on as a work of art seen by thousands of strangers every day.
It is rare to see tributes of this scale emerge so quickly after tragedy. And while the donations alone don’t erase the pain, they remind us that even in the darkest moments, collective remembrance can create light. For Iryna Zarutska, that light may soon shine on walls across America, carrying her memory forward in color, strength, and resilience.
