Navarone Garibaldi is standing by his decision to crowdfund his latest business venture. After launching a GoFundMe campaign to help open an affordable organic pizza restaurant, Priscilla Presley's son addressed criticism from social media users who questioned why he hadn't asked his famous mother – who was married to Elvis Presley from 1967 to 1973 and is worth $10 million – for financial support.
The 39-year-old nepo baby, whose father is screenwriter Marco Garibaldi, wrote in a recent Instagram post: "Haters gonna hate. "I'm sure I'll have to explain this many more times to ignorant people who I think should 'ask my mom' or that I have money...YEAH, I also have a lot of bills, I also have a budget."
© Steve GranitzGaribaldi has raised $6,133, well above his $5,500 goal for his "affordable organic pizza" business. A description on his GoFundMe page states, "I have found a large industrial pizza oven and negotiated it from $14,000 down to $8,500. I have 3,000 saved up for this. I'm putting in a lot of my own money'"
Garibaldi, who stated that he donates to homelessness and other charitable causes, explained that he only wants people to contribute if they can "afford" to do so.
He told his Instagram followers, "If I just went all in every time I thought I had a great idea...I'd be broke in 2 days. I'm not asking (anyone) to donate that can't afford to. I'm offering the pizza to people that donate."
© Go Fund MeGaribaldi added, "I'm putting in a lot of my own money to buy this oven. Just asking for help on the remaining bit that's out of my budget. That's all. Love and Peace, Kindness and pizza."
Garibaldi explained that the donations – which have ranged from $13 to $1,000 – will enable him to fulfil a lifelong dream of starting his own business. He wrote on GoFundMe: "I have always wanted to start my own business, but marketing and advertising always get in my way."
© Go Fund MeAdding, "The pizza dough and sauces (are) already sourced. It's just buying the oven that I need to get me started."
Elvis would still be working
Priscilla has written a new memoir about life with Elvis and thinks that The King of Rock and Roll – who died aged 42 in 1977 – would still be touring if he were alive now.
She told our sister publication, HELLO! Magazine earlier this year, "I think he’d be doing the same thing in life – singing and touring. He loved it."
