Model who went viral after doing a runway walk at an OPEN-CASKET viewing defends her tribute, saying it’s what the late designer wanted

a The model who took a catwalk walk during her friend’s open casket viewing has defended her high-fashion tribute to the late designer after facing backlash over the viral images.

Erica L. Carrington paid tribute to Vernest Moore on November 10 by strutting her stuff in one of his silver Ve’Moore Couture designs at the Newark Museum of Art in New Jersey.

The “red carpet viewing” was one of three events in honor of Moore, who died on October 22, a few weeks after his 62nd birthday.

“I think we sent Vernest off the way he would have wanted, and that’s really all that matters,” Carrington explained. TMZLive.

The model walked the red carpet and blew Moore a kiss before posing in front of his open casket

Carrington (pictured with Moore) shared the footage on Instagram and said her last walk for him was one of the ‘most challenging things’ she has had to do

She shared a video of her catwalk during the viewing on Instagram with a heartfelt caption about what the moment meant to her. She said it was one of the “most challenging things” she has had to do.

‘I CAN’T BELIEVE this would be my last walk for you, so I’m NOT! From now on… even if I don’t walk FOR YOU, I will walk WITH YOU, because I know you will ALWAYS be with me,” she wrote to Moore.

The footage shows Carrington modeling a beaded headdress and long-sleeved silver dress designed by Moore as she walks into the viewing.

She struck a pose before walking down the stairs and onto the red carpet toward Moore’s open casket.

Carrington blew her friend a kiss, struck one last pose and then walked to her seat.

The video went viral and was posted to Twitter, formerly X, where viewers were stunned to see her walking towards an open casket.

“I guarantee you won’t be able to guess how this video ends,” one person wrote.

“Honey, I thought this was a fashion show…WHAT,” another added.

The viewing was one of three events honoring Moore, who died Oct. 22, a few weeks after his 62nd birthday

Carrington dazzled in one of Moore’s silver Ve’Moore Couture dresses and a beaded headdress

Carrington explained on TMZ Live that Moore had planned the “three-day celebration” of his life with a friend before his death

“My jaw dropped when I saw the coffin,” someone else agreed.

Others defended Carrington’s runway walk, insisting the send-off was likely what the designer would have wanted.

“Her explanation on Instagram says it’s a tribute to him because he was a designer,” one person commented. “I assume he asked to be celebrated this way.”

Another agreed: “They respected his wishes…”

“Honestly better than some of these other broadcasts I’ve seen. Assuming he was the designer,” someone else responded.

“I think we sent Vernest off the way he wanted, and that’s really all that matters,” she said.

Carrington faced backlash for her runway walk, but she confirmed that those at the viewing understood it was a tribute and what Moore would have wanted.

Carrington explained on TMZ Live that Moore had planned the “three-day celebration” of his life with a friend before his death.

She also confirmed that those present at the viewing understood that her catwalk was a tribute and what Moore would have wanted.

“I still get emotional when I think about it and watch the video because I shared some of his last moments with him, not even knowing that those were his last moments,” she said. “So that just tells you what kind of person he was.”

Carrington admitted she was hyperventilating before walking into the viewing, but she could hear Moore telling her to “get it together.”

“So that’s what I tried to do for him, and it was an honor to be able to do that,” the model said.