David Geffen: Billionaire deletes Instagram after 'tone-deaf' post from yacht

Geffen’s vessel is one of largest in world

David Geffen deletes Instagram after backlash over yacht picture (Getty)

Billionaire David Geffen has deleted his Instagram account after facing intense backlash over a post he shared from his yacht amid the coronavirus pandemic.

On Saturday, Geffen, who has an estimated net worth of $7.8bn, according to Forbes, shared photos of his $590m super yacht, Rising Sun.

“Sunset last night,” the 77-year-old captioned the view from the 454-foot yacht. “Isolated in the Grenadines avoiding the virus. I’m hoping everybody is staying safe.”

The photos prompted near-immediate criticism on social media, with many calling Geffen “tone-deaf” and “narcissistic” for sharing the posts while millions around the world are dealing with layoffs and health concerns as a result of the virus.

“Seriously what possesses a person to send a picture from a luxury yacht during a pandemic where people are losing their livelihoods? There’s something seriously wrong with David Geffen,” one person tweeted.

Another said: “David Geffen wants us to know there’s nothing to fear but poverty.”

Meghan McCain was among those criticising the billionaire record label founder, tweeting: “David Geffen is worth $8bn! For God’s sake help this country get ventilators, our health workers masks and the medical supplies they need! Or no, just stay on your f***ing yacht Instagramming. This is just shameful and grotesque.”

Shortly after sharing the photos, Geffen, who also founded the film studio DreamWorks, turned his Instagram account to private before later deleting it.

Rising Sun, which has hosted notable figures including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Oprah Winfrey and Michelle and Barack Obama, has a full gym, a wine cellar, a sauna and spa, and can accommodate up to 16 guests and 43 crew members, according to Club Yacht.

In the US, there have been 180,789 confirmed cases of coronavirus, according to the latest figures, and 3,580 deaths from the virus.