Carlton Luray Funderburke, 42, of Kansas City, Missouri, United States is a senior pastor at the Church at the Well in Kansas City, which he and his wife Sylvarena Bolton Funderburke, 43, founded. He wants a Movado watch, a luxury watch that ranges in price from $300 to $3,000, so he asked his congregation to buy him one in 2021.

On August 7, 2022, Carlton berated the members of his congregation and pointed out that they can buy a Movado watch at Sam’s Club, a chain of membership-only retail warehouse clubs owned and operated by Walmart Inc. He said, “Oh, you can buy a Movado at Sam’s and y’all know I asked for one last year and here it is all the way in August and I still ain’t got it.”

“Y’all ain’t said nothing,” Carlton continued. “Let me kick down the door and talk to my cheap sons and daughters.”

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Aside from Movado, Carlton also mentioned several other brands including Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada. He told his congregation, “This is how I know you’re still poor, broke, busted and disgusted because of how you been honoring me.”

“I’m not worth your McDonald’s money?” Carlton asked his congregation. “I’m not worth your Red Lobster money? I ain’t worth your St. John Knits?”

“Y’all can’t afford no-how,” the pastor continued. “I ain’t worth y’all Louis Vuitton? I ain’t worth your Prada? I’m not worth your Gucci?”

A clip of the sermon went viral on social media. On August 16, 2022, Carlton issued an apology video saying, “Though there is context behind the content of the clip, no context will suffice to explain the hurt and anguish caused by my words.”

“I’ve spoken to those I am accountable to and have received their correction and instruction,” Carlton continued. “I have also privately apologized to our church, who has extended their love and support to me.”

In 1881, Achille Ditesheim founded Movado in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. In 1892, he and his brothers Isidore Ditesheim and Leopold Ditesheim combined their separate businesses to create L.A. & I. Ditesheim, Fabricants.

In the 1960s, watchmaker Gedalio Grinberg escaped Cuba and came to the U.S. He went on to found North American Watch Corp, which purchased L.A. & I. Ditesheim, Fabricants in 1983.

Grinberg passed away on January 4, 2009. His son Efraim Grinberg is currently the chairman and chief executive officer of Movado, which is based in Paramus, New Jersey, USA.