Julian Kynaston

Location: Leeds

Affiliation: Sheffield Hunt Sabs

Ever wondered how the sabs fund their violent and antisocial countryside exploits?

Besides begging for money from the general public on donation pages (like Sam Morley, Doug Maw, Emma Phipps, and Max Watson), sabs have attracted a few high net worth donors – one of whom is Julian Kynaston, a former football hooligan and the founder of a make-up company which has been branded “racist”.  

“Racist” make-up brand

Kynaston is the founder of brand agency Propaganda, and founded the make-up brand Illamasqua, which he sold in 2019 for £23 million.

The company made headlines when it asked its customers take an anti-fascism pledge during Donald Trump’s first presidency. This was particularly ironic given Illamasqua itself was accused of ‘blackface’ – a highly offensive and racist practice – in a Christmas advert.

The ad attracted a lot of anger on social media, with former fans expressing anger at the make-up brand and labelling it ‘racist’.

In another PR disaster for the company, Illamasqua has also been accused of “allowing bullying” by a former employee.

Sab support 

Kynaston also admits to a misspent youth as a violent football hooligan for Leeds United who was obsessed with designer clothes. Now he supports sabs, seemingly swapping one form of mob violence and antisocial behaviour for another.

He has helped raised funds for the Sheffield Hunt Sabs – thereby pouring money into the pockets of people like Christopher Hallam, a sab who has been arrested on suspicion of stalking and harassing an MP.