On Thursday morning just after 8:30 a.m., Andy Spade- husband of deceased designer Kate Spade- left his Upper East Side building Thursday morning hiding his face behind a mouse mask.
“Kate, his wife of 24 years and longtime business partner, died by suicide Tuesday by hanging herself in a bedroom in her apartment. Together, the couple created a multi-million dollar empire with their handbag company, Kate Spade.”1
(Sources told The New York Post that Spade tied a red scarf to a doorknob in her home. They also confirmed reports of Spade’s suicide note, adding that she appeared to be going through a number of relationship problems.2)
(You might recognize the mask as Bernard, from the 1977 cartoon movie, “The Rescuers.”)
As Spade, 55, walked to the waiting black Chevy Suburban he ignored a reporter’s questions (Besides the children’s mask he was also wearing a stuffed blue and yellow backpack.) but snapped, “Do you know the meaning of privacy?” as he climbed into the SUV.
Spade claims they had been living separately for the past 10 months and denies divorce had been discussed. He also spoke to the NY Times about his wife, saying “She was actively seeking help for depression and anxiety over the last 5 years, seeing a doctor on a regular basis and taking medication for both depression AND anxiety. There was no substance or alcohol abuse.” (Though her sister, allegedly estranged, and others seem to hint at the fact that there was alcohol abuse. We are not sure who to believe.)
Read that sentence again. Kate Spade was taking medications for depression and anxiety prescribed by her doctor. But no substance or alcohol abuse. And remember, side effects of these medications include suicidal thoughts and death. Wake UP before it’s too late.
In the midst of all this, social media is aflutter with pictures from Andy Spade’s Instagram page (see above); folks think the pictures are inappropriate and in poor taste. People are also talking about Spade’s ties with political figures like the Clintons. (We are only stating facts, not forming an opinion or making a political statement.)
The pair has a 13-year-old daughter named Frances Beatrix. We cannot imagine what she is feeling right now. Our hearts go out to her and hope that someone is caring for her emotional needs.
