Jennifer Hudson is a proud Payless kid, having grown up in Chicago buying what she says were cheap shoes. However, she was shocked to find out from her own son, David Daniel Otunga Jr., that not only were a pair of her sneakers fake, but an authentic pair of Jordans can cost $20,000.
Recently, on her new eponymous TV talk show, Hudson explained why she refuses to pay for expensive shoes, especially for “gym shoes,” a Chicagoan term for sneakers, for her teenage son.
Don’t Splurge
The EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony winner) wants to set a fiscally responsible example for her son, who she believes is too concerned about designer brands, unlike herself. The former 2004 “American Idol” contestant has a net worth of $30 million.
She told the audience how she and her mother used to shop for back to school, with Hudson opting to wear the cheapest shoes because she believed her confidence conveyed her appearance.
“‘I, as a kid, my brother and my sister loved gym shoes, and they would get the Jordans and name brands stuff,” she said, adding that she would tell her mother, “‘Mama, don’t worry about me, take me to Payless.’”
Payless is currently defunct.
The conversation on shoes began when Hudson was telling her audience how involved she is in her son’s life, including playing sports.
Son Favors Expensive Kicks
Hudson took a trip to a local clothing store with her 13-year-old son and others and was bewildered when a sales clerk told her someone just purchased a selection of shoes that cost $7,000.
Her son then picked a pair of Jordan 11 Retro OVO Grey Snakeskin, which are generally auctioned for about $20,000. David walked out empty-handed.
“What do the shoes do?!” Hudson said as the audience roared with laughter. “What it do? Is it going to drive me somewhere?”
Hudson said her son recommended sneakers for her to buy for herself, and when she bought them her son revealed, “They’re fake.”
The 41-year-old said she discovered there are people who specialize in investigating sneakers’ authenticity.
The host then demonstrates a video showing how the sneaker authenticity check works. Commentating on the video, Hudson said she was confused about how anyone would tell the difference between what is real and fake.
There are a number of factors to determine whether or not one’s shoes are authentic. It depends on how it is constructed, including the snitching and the logo.
According to a Better Business Bureau report in 2017, among the top three counterfeit items, from China are shoes being imported to the U.S.
