In 2020, George Floyd’s memorial GoFundMe raised $14.7 million; six years later, three of his siblings are asking brother Philonise for a full accounting of the fundraiser and its distributions (Image Credit: ANGELA WEISS/ Getty Images)
When George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis in May 2020, donations quickly poured into a GoFundMe campaign created to support his family and help with expenses following his death.
Three of Floyd’s siblings, Zsazsa Floyd, LaTonya Floyd and Rodney Floyd, are seeking a complete accounting from their brother Philonise Floyd, according to a report by TMZ. The fundraiser became one of the platform’s most heavily supported campaigns that year. Now, six years later, questions have emerged within Floyd’s family over how the money was handled. They are asking for financial records showing how donations were received, managed and distributed.
An August 11 letter sent to Philonise Floyd by a Houston-based lawyer on behalf of Zsazsa, LaTonya and Rodney says the fundraiser collected about $19 million, according to TMZ. GoFundMe’s 2020 figure was $14.7 million, while the more recent family letter refers to approximately $19 million collected by the campaign. TMZ reported that it had received nearly $13 million from almost 500,000 donations little more than a week after it began, setting a GoFundMe record at the time. GoFundMe subsequently included the fundraiser among its top campaigns of 2020.
Because the two figures come from different points or accounts of the fundraiser, that difference is worth noting. When the campaign was launched, the purpose extended beyond funeral expenses.
Their request includes GoFundMe reports, bank or account statements, transaction histories, tax filings and other financial records associated with the campaign, according to the letter obtained by TMZ. Philonise Floyd had said the money would help with funeral and burial costs, counselling, travel associated with court proceedings and other needs of the family. He also said that part of the money would go to Floyd’s estate to support his children and their education, according to TMZ’s account of the fundraiser. Rodney Floyd told TMZ that the family wants to see the records and understand how decisions concerning the funds were made.
The amount cited in the family’s latest request is higher. The three siblings are now asking to see documentation connected to the fundraiser and its finances. The campaign’s extraordinary response was evident almost immediately. The latest dispute centres on transparency rather than the original public response to Floyd’s death. The three siblings want to understand how decisions were made about the money and where the funds ultimately went. The request also comes against the backdrop of a fundraiser that attracted an unusually large number of individual donors. GoFundMe’s own account shows that more than half a million people contributed, meaning the campaign involved a substantial amount of money and a large donor base.
The family members say they have previously asked for information about how the money was handled and distributed but have not received the documentation they were seeking.
A dispute six years after Floyd’s death
The dispute remains centred on the accounting and distribution of funds from a campaign that, within weeks of its launch in 2020, had already drawn hundreds of thousands of donors and millions of dollars in support. The next step will depend on whether the requested financial records are provided and whether the family can resolve its questions privately.