The owner of eSalon, where House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) got her hair done last week, is receiving financial assistance after she was accused of setting her up by recording her walking around the salon without a mask on.
As of Tuesday afternoon a GoFundMe page for Erica Kious, allegedly created by one of her friends, raised $313,713 from 8,900 donors.
According to the page, “ALL donations will go directly to Erica to pay off any debts from the business that she is forced to shut down, expenses to relocate and reopen in a new location.”
Kious expressed her appreciation in a letter published on the page.
“I wish I could personally thank every person who sent me their prayers, words of encouragement and support, especially at a time when so many are struggling to make ends meet in their own lives,” Kious said.
She added, “I am very humbled and grateful to have received such an outpouring of kindness, empathy and generosity from people I don’t even know, and from all walks of life and all sides of the political spectrum.”
Drew Hammill, deputy chief of staff for Pelosi’s office, released a statement after she visited the salon, as IJR previously reported.
He claimed Pelosi “complied with the rules as presented to her by this establishment.”
Kious told Fox News, “It was a slap in the face that she went in, you know, that she feels that she can just go and get her stuff done while no one else can go in, and I can’t work.”
Pelosi later accused the salon of setting her up and called for an apology, as IJR previously reported.
The stylist who did Pelosi’s hair appeared to agree with her claim it was a set-up. Hairstylist Jonathan DeNardo’s lawyer said in a statement, “It appears Ms. Kious is furthering a set-up of Speaker Pelosi for her own vain aspirations.”
Pelosi also received backlash from the White House for her visit. `White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany criticized Pelosi during a press briefing and played footage of the video on a loop.
