In a statement shared Thursday, the day after the unfortunate accident, the Staffords said, “We have been in communication with Kelly Smiley since yesterday’s incident and we are sorry for what happened. As we told Kelly, we will be covering all her hospital bills and replacing her cameras. We wish her a speedy recovery” (via Us Weekly).
E! Online reports that a GoFundMe account has also been set up to help support the photographer. In part, the page notes, “Since Kelly is a working photographer, she needs this gear to help keep her working after fully recovering. Kelly is loved by all who know her and is a well-respected individual in the photography community.”
Although Smiley initially shared details about her recovery on social media, at time of writing it seems that her Twitter and Instagram accounts were deleted. Meanwhile, Stafford’s reaction continues to be debated online, with one person tweeting, “The Staffords should get no praise for being shamed into helping Kelly Smiley. Matthew watched her back off the stage, saw her fall, took a sip of his drink and walked away.”
