Keith Lemon "disappointed" at fake Caroline Flack charity tribute t-shirts

25 February 2020, 13:16 | Updated: 4 March 2020, 10:35

Lemon created a tribute shirt for the late Love Island host, with all the proceeds going to the Samaritans, but he has hit out at fake versions online.

Keith Lemon has thanked fans for buying his Caroline Flack tribute t-shirts, but has hit out against those selling fakes online.

The television and entertainment world was left stunned when the Love Island host tragically took her own life on Saturday 15 February this year.

To honour his late friend, the Celebrity Juice host designed the garment, which features an illustration of the former Love Island host with the words #BeKind, and placed it for sale on his kilclothes website - with all the proceeds going to the Samaritans.

View this post on Instagram

Like everyone I was absolutely shocked by the news of what happened to Caroline. All the recent events just seemed so unreal. I’d been friends with Caroline for many years. Since before telly happened. In more recent times I’d not seen Caroline as much as I had years ago, but it was always like old times when I saw her. I did this t-shirt to spread Caroline’s own words #Bekind, and to raise money for the Samaritans. 100% of profits will go to @samaritanscharity and the link is in my bio or tap the pic. For more information on the amazing work The Samaritans do, or if you are looking for any support, please go to samaritans.org or call them directly on 116 123. Will miss you Flack. Love to your family x

A post shared by Keith Lemon (@keithlemon) on Feb 21, 2020 at 9:38am PST

Lemon - whose real name is Leigh Francis - has been overwhelmed by the response to his t-shirts so far, but has also shared his disappointment at those who have ripped off his design for their own gain, which have ended up on user generated selling sites.

Watch a video, which he shared on his Instagram above.

Speaking to the camera in one video clip, he began: "Thanks so much for everyone that's bought a t-shirt for Be Kind. I think we've raised about 11,280 so far for the Samaritans, which is amazing..."

The Bo Selecta star added: "Unfortunately a company called @teespring has stolen the design and has started selling them,’ Keith captioned one of three videos sharing his frustration.

"That’s profits that would’ve gone to Samaritans. Hopefully they’ll do the right thing and hand over what profits they make to the Samaritans. Can’t trust anyone! Disappointing."

Keith Lemon and Caroline Flack in 2008 and Keith Lemon inset. Picture: 1. Guy Levy/EMPICS Entertainment/PA 2. Instagram/Keith Lemon

Teespring has since disabled the user from their site and released an official statement to Metro.co.uk, which read: "Teespring allows creators to independently upload designs and employs software to filter the 100k+ uploads submitted daily.

"As a user-generated platform, all designs are created by individuals and not directly by Teespring. The company invests in both human and machine review technology to flag content which violates our policies."

They continued: "Teespring takes infringement very seriously. If we receive any complaint or allegation that a design or any resulting merchandise constitutes an unauthorised use of a third party’s rights, we will terminate the campaign accordingly.

"This includes charitable campaigns – we categorically do not support the promotion of or profiting from designs created for a charitable cause. This seller’s products have been removed, the account suspended and the seller has made no profit. ‘Keith Lemon has thanked Teespring for the immediate removal, and as an act of support for the cause, Teespring has made a donation to The Samaritans."

Keith Lemon has also named and shamed two websites which still have the fraudulent t-shirts on them, telling his fans: "They are just taking money from the Samaritans. Really disappointed, but if you haven't bought one, don't buy them from there.

"Buy them from kilclothes.com, where all the profits will go to the Samaritans."