THE grieving husband of fashion designer Kate Spade has been seen leaving his New York Upper East Side building Thursday morning — hiding his face behind a mouse mask.
Andy Spade threw on the bizarre disguise and left his Park Avenue home just after 8.30am — two days after his wife, Kate, was found dead in the apartment.
The mask — Bernard, voiced by Bob Newhart in the 1977 cartoon movie The Rescuers — depicts the fictional character with a grinning bucktoothed face, black whiskers, wearing a red newsboy cap and matching turtleneck.
Spade, 55, clad in a buttoned-up jean jacket, slowly walked to a waiting black Chevy Suburban while clutching a coffee mug and with a green notebook tucked under his arm.
Spade, who was also wearing a stuffed blue and yellow backpack, ignored a reporter’s questions.
“Do you know the meaning of privacy?” he snapped as he climbed into the SUV.
Kate, his wife of 24 years and longtime business partner, took her own life on Tuesday and was found in a bedroom in her apartment.
Together, the couple created a multimillion dollar empire with their handbag company, Kate Spade.
In a statement, Andy said the two had been living separately for the past 10 months but denied divorce was on the table. The pair has a 13-year-old daughter Frances Beatrix.
Kate wrote a note telling her daughter it wasn’t her fault before she took her own life, according to reports.
TMZ reported that the note was found near her body, and according to law enforcement sources, it read: “Bea — I have always loved you. This is not your fault. Ask Daddy!”
It’s understood the fashion mogul’s husband was also at their Upper East Side home when her body was discovered, while their teenage daughter was at school.
If you are experiencing mental health issues or suicidal feelings contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, BeyondBlue 1300 224 636, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 or Headspace on 1800 650 890. If it is an emergency call 000.