Keith Lemon attacks websites selling fake Caroline Flack T-shirts
The comedian has launched a T-shirt with an image of the late presenter and the words 'be kind' with all profits going to charity.
Tuesday 25 February 2020 19:30, UK
Keith Lemon has claimed fake versions of a T-shirt he created for charity following Caroline Flack's suicide are being sold online, calling it "very disappointing".
The Celebrity Juice star has revealed he was friends with the Flack "for many years", and said he was "shocked" by the 40-year-old's death.
Over the weekend, he launched his design on his website - kilclothes.com - which features an image of the late Love Island presenter and the words "be kind", with all the profits going to mental health charity the Samaritans.
Lemon says he has sold more than 11,000 T-shirts, costing £25 each, but is now urging fans to be careful when buying one.
He says he is "mad vexed" that his design has been "stolen" and is being sold on several other websites.
The comedian, real name Leigh Francis, has posted several video messages on his Instagram warning his followers, and he has also tweeted his anger over the fake versions.
He called out Teespring for selling one, and in one post said: "It is just a shame that some people are trying to make some money out of what's happened".
The company - based in San Francisco, California, according to its Twitter account - has responded, saying it is a "user-generated platform", and that all designs are created by "independent individuals".
It added: "We have ensured the sellers account has been disabled. Rest assured, we do not support this behavior on our platform!."
Lemon replied saying: "Fank you", but posted about several other websites still selling them.
Flack was found dead at her London flat on 15 February after taking her own life.
Before the opening of the inquest into her death, her family released an unpublished Instagram post she wrote days before she died.
In the statement, Flack wrote that her arrest for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton, 27, last year, meant "within 24 hours my whole world and future was swept from under my feet".
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There has been an outpouring of grief and tributes from fans and celebrities following her death, and Sunday night's live final of Love Island was dedicated to her.
The first ever winter series of the dating show, filmed in South Africa, was hosted by Laura Whitmore, who said: "The past week has been extremely difficult coming to terms with the loss of our friend and colleague Caroline.
"We're thinking of her family and everyone who knew her at this time."