Fund for artists to paint murals of slain Ukrainian woman draws interest from controversial figures

An artist fund devoted to creating murals to honor slain Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska has received hefty donations from divisive figures. 

Zarutska, 23, was riding the train in Charlotte, North Carolina when a crazed attacker snuck up on her from behind and stabbed her to death on August 22.

The refugee who fled her war-torn home in 2022 bled to death with fear in her eyes as onlookers did nothing to intervene. 

Prosecutors identified the cold-blooded culprit as as career criminal Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, who blamed his despicably violent actions to a schizophrenic episode. 

In the weeks following Zarutska’s gut-wrenching death, prominent – and controversial – individuals have offered financial backing for art pieces in her memory. 

‘I am offering $500k in $10k grants to paint murals of the face of Iryna Zarutska in prominent US city locations,’ Intercom CEO Eoghan McCabe declared on X on Tuesday.

The Irish AI entrepreneur gesture seemingly inspired other big names to follow suit, including Tesla founder Elon Musk and internet personality Andrew Tate.

Both men vowed to gift $1million to the campaign McCabe started, titled ‘Iryna Zarutska did not ask to be a martyr.’ 

‘But you can help make sure there is at least some meaning in her brutal death,’ the GiveSendGo fundraiser reads. 

‘We will install as many posters and murals across this great nation as funds afford so that the important conversations her slaying provokes may perpetuate and drive much needed change.’ 

An artist fund devoted to creating murals to honor slain Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska (pictured) has received hefty donations from divisive figures

Zarutska (pictured), 23, was riding the train in Charlotte, North Carolina when a crazed attacker snuck up on her from behind and stabbed her to death on August 22

The fundraiser has raised more than $91,000 in donations, not including the ones pledged by Tate, Musk and McCabe.

‘Based. Hopefully more right-wing founders and CEOs realize they need to fund these initiatives,’ one person reacted to the donations. 

‘The Democrats have their patronage system for artists and radicals which was literally funded by the government, along with the entire college apparatus.’

Prosecutors identified the cold-blooded culprit as as career criminal Decarlos Brown Jr. (pictured), 34, who blamed his despicably violent actions to a schizophrenic episode  

While many praised the idea of murals to remember Zarutska by, others said the money should go to more meaningful causes. 

‘Stop the virtue signaling and send the money to Ukrainian charities in her home country,’ one X user wrote. 

Another wrote: ‘Why don’t you donate that money to the people in Ukraine who are under bombardment from russian attack? 

‘Send it to orphanages, to the children who have lost their parents, send it to the elderly of Ukraine who need food, medicines & clothing because they’ve lost their homes?’

A GoFundMe has raised more than $351,000 for the defenseless victim’s family. 

Tesla founder Elon Musk (pictured) said he would donate $1million to murals

Andrew Tate (pictured) also vowed to make a heft donation 

Horrific footage captured the moment Ukrainian refugee Zarutska (pictured) was stabbed to death from behind as she sat on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 22 

‘Ira had recently arrived in the United States, seeking safety from the war and hoping for a new beginning. Tragically, her life was cut short far too soon. 

Tate, Musk and McCabe – all no stranger to controversy – have spoken out about the heinous murder. 

‘I do think that rapid, public executions for crimes like this are a spiritual goal that we should point ourselves towards,’ McCabe wrote on X.     

‘I worry about Western society if we can’t react in proportion to how evil this is.’

Tate, consistent with his brazen online presence, suggested Zarutska’s death should be a ‘wake up call for females,’ because the judge who allowed Brown to walk free, Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes, is a woman. 

‘Stop letting women vote, stop giving women position as judges, stop giving women political appointments. As soon as only men run government and law, all the problems disappear.’  

Musk has reposted several sentiments about the murder, including FBI Director Kash Patel’s statement that ‘the brutal attack on Iryna Zarutska was a disgraceful act that should never happen in America.’ 

Zarutska’s horrific murder sparked conservative outrage, with critics of liberal media outlets claiming they tried to coverage up her death. 

Intercom CEO Eoghan McCabe (pictured) started an art fund to honor the murdered refugee 

The Irish AI entrepreneur gesture seemingly inspired other big names to follow suit, including Tesla founder Musk and internet personality Tate

Staying true to his shameless online personality, Tate said Zarutska’s death should be a ‘wake up call to females’ 

Musk highlighted the lack of coverage by re-sharing one post counting how many articles each outlet had written about the stabbing, with the comment: ‘Zero’. 

Zarutska was on her way home from work at Zepeddie’s pizzeria in south Charlotte when she was stabbed three times in her neck and hands. 

She was not even on the train for five minutes before she was killed. 

Zepeddie’s posted a tribute to the devoted worker, writing: ‘We lost not only an incredible employee, but a true friend.

‘Our dear Iryna left this world far too soon, and our hearts are heavy with grief.

‘Since her passing, we have kept a candle burning in her memory – a small reminder of the warmth, kindness, and light she brought into our lives every single day.’

In her obituary, family said that before starting her new life in the US, Iryna graduated from Synergy College in Kyiv with a degree in Art and Restoration. 

She was described as an adventurous young woman who adored animals and traveling. 

‘She shared her creativity generously, gifting family and friends with her artwork,’ they said.