Phoebe Gates, Bill Gates’ 20-year-old daughter, speaks out against racist trolling and conspiracy theories about her interracial relationship

Phoebe Gates, Bill Gates’ 20-year-old daughter, speaks out against racist trolling and conspiracy theories about her interracial relationship

Phoebe Gates, daughter of Bill Gates and social media influencer, has spoken out against the racist abuse she has faced for dating a black man. She also addressed and condemned the spread of misconceptions and conspiracy theories about her family on social media.

Phoebe Gates, the 20-year-old daughter of Bill Gates, confirmed her relationship with fellow Stanford student Robert Ross in July. She shared photos of the two of them together on Instagram.

Shortly after Phoebe Gates shared photos of her and her boyfriend Robert Ross on Instagram, she received a barrage of negative comments from trolls. Some criticized her for dating a person of color while others accused Ross of being with her for her wealth.

In an interview with The Information, Phoebe Gates addressed the backlash she received for her relationship with Robert Ross. She stated that she was ‘done’ with people making fun of her relationship.

@phoebegates

Couldn’t be any more of a stage mom @realrobertross

♬ On the river Avicci – Daniel Burke

Phoebe Gates, who has amassed a large following on TikTok and Instagram, spoke with The Information about the ups and downs of being in the public eye. When asked about the worst part of being a social media sensation, the 20-year-old college student cited the spread of misconceptions and conspiracy theories about her family and her relationship with her boyfriend.

It’s 2023. I’m done being memed for being in an interracial relationship.’

Phoebe Gates’ TikTok account features a variety of content, including ‘day in the life videos, workout clips, fashion and beauty reviews, and discussions of political topics such as women’s rights and abortion with her mother Melinda Gates. Her most popular video, with over 8 million views, shows her father, Bill Gates, trying out a Box Ball he received for Christmas. The humorous clip shows the Microsoft founder attempting to punch the small red ball attached to a headband via a bungee cord but missing most of the time.

In her interview with The Information, Phoebe Gates acknowledged that many people follow her on social media to get a glimpse into her family’s life. However, she believes her content keeps them engaged and returning for more.

‘I’m pretty realistic that people start following me because of my family name. And people probably find it funny to see my dad being a goof and playing [Box Ball],’ she stated.

‘But once they follow me, they stick around, and I think some of that is because of the issues that I post about, like women’s health.

‘It’s 2023. I’m done being memed for being in an interracial relationship,’ she added

‘I like to bring audiences along to the events I go to, my life at college, what’s front of mind for me, that kind of stuff.’

Phoebe Gates often shares glimpses of her luxurious lifestyle on TikTok and Instagram. Her posts include photos of her wearing designer clothes, attending exclusive events, travelling to exotic destinations, and dining at fancy restaurants. The social media influencer, who grew up in a $131 million mansion in Medina, Washington, with her parents and siblings Jennifer and Rory, hopes that by being open on social media, she can dispel any misconceptions people may have about her and her family.

‘People have a lot of preconceptions about me, so TikTok has been a chance for me to tell my own story and also use the attention my family name might bring to spotlight issues that are important to me, like women’s health and sustainable fashion,’ she continued.

As for what her parents think about her online presence, Phoebe said that Melinda is ‘supportive and curious,’ while her dad is less interested.

‘[My mom] gets that social is a space that young people need to own and shape. My dad publishes a lot on social, but he doesn’t follow it much himself,’ she revealed.

Phoebe Gates speaks out against racist trolling and conspiracy theories about her interracial relationship

Despite her success on social media, Phoebe Gates has no plans to make content creation her full-time career. Instead, she is focused on pursuing a career in fashion design. She has already made a name for herself in the industry, having interned at British Vogue and attended fashion shows in New York and Paris. In addition to her fashion aspirations, Phoebe revealed to The Information that she is planning to launch a startup called Phia with her roommate Sophia Kianni, who also has a large following on social media.

‘We’re building out an idea to help make fashion more sustainable. We have so much planned for this year and social media is going to be a big part of that,’ Phoebe dished up the upcoming project.

In a past interview with WWD, Phoebe opened up about wanting to ‘be her own person’ and ‘branch away’ from her parents’ success.

‘OK, I’m my parents’ daughter, that gives me immense privilege, but it’s not what I’m defined by,’ she said.

‘I want to have my own identity, I want to be my own person, I want to branch away from that, but how do I do that in a way where I can yield some sort of change?’

Bill and Melinda Gates have emphasized their desire for their children to create their paths in life. Despite his immense wealth, Bill has expressed concern about the potential negative effects of wealth on his children and has pledged to use his fortune to help the less fortunate.

While raising their children, Bill and Melinda, who separated in May 2021 after 27 years of marriage, strived to give them a normal upbringing. They assigned household chores and limited screen time, forbidding their children from having phones until they were 14.