Priscilla Presley’s son, Navarone Garibaldi Garcia, is defending his decision to use crowdfunding to help launch a new pizza business.

Navarone, 37, is the son of Priscilla Presley and film producer Marco Garibaldi. Priscilla, 81, is an actress and businesswoman who was married to rock and roll legend Elvis Presley from 1967 to 1973. She is also the mother of the late Lisa Marie Presley.

Navarone has built his own career in entertainment. He is a musician and the frontman of the rock band Them Guns and has also appeared in several films. Now, he is hoping to try something completely different: selling affordable organic pizza from his Los Angeles driveway.

On Friday, July 10, Navarone launched a GoFundMe with a goal of raising $5,500. He explained that he wants to purchase an industrial pizza oven and serve people in his neighborhood, which he said gets plenty of foot traffic.

According to Navarone, he has always dreamed of owning a business but has been discouraged by the high costs of opening and advertising a traditional restaurant. He said he found an industrial pizza oven originally priced at $14,000 and negotiated the cost down to $8,500.

Navarone said he already has $3,000 saved and has sourced the pizza dough and sauces he plans to use. He is asking supporters to help cover the remaining cost of the oven.

However, the fundraiser quickly sparked criticism online. Some people questioned why the son of Priscilla Presley needed to ask strangers for money. Others suggested he simply ask his famous mother to pay for the business.

Navarone fired back on Instagram, explaining that he has bills and lives on a budget like many other people.

“Haters gonna hate,” he wrote, adding that he expected to repeatedly explain why he was not asking his mother for money.

Navarone also addressed the controversy in an interview with TMZ. He said Priscilla supports his pizza idea, but he does not feel comfortable asking her to finance every business idea he comes up with.

“She loves the idea but I can’t ask for money for every whimsical idea I have or we both would be broke,” he told the outlet.

He also joked that he expects his mother to stop by his driveway for a pizza once the business is running.

Navarone admitted that he often has many ideas and tries different projects. He said that if he spent all of his money on every idea he believed in, he would quickly go broke.

He also stressed that no one is being forced to donate to the fundraiser.

Navarone said supporters who contribute will be offered free pizza. He also pointed out that he is putting thousands of dollars of his own money toward the oven and is only asking for help with the amount he cannot currently afford.

In a series of Instagram Stories, Navarone continued defending himself against people who accused him of taking advantage of donors. He explained that the industrial oven is extremely expensive and said he is keeping a list of everyone who contributes.

According to Navarone, some donors simply have extra money and like the idea of being invited to hang out and enjoy free pizza whenever they visit Los Angeles.

The criticism became even more personal when one social media user called Navarone “extremely privileged” and accused him of never working for anything.

Navarone quickly responded, comparing crowdfunding to the way many businesses seek outside investors.

“You think that every restaurant is started with one person? They take investors,” he wrote.

He also defended his work history, pointing out that he has acted in films and toured the country with a rock band.

Navarone later said some critics had even started sending negative messages directly to his Instagram account.

Despite the backlash, he remains confident in his plan.

In a Saturday, July 11, Instagram Stories update, Navarone said his pizza will ultimately prove the doubters wrong. He promised that once people see the first pizza come out of his new oven, they will understand why he believes the investment is worth it.

By Sunday, July 12, Navarone was sharing screenshots of donations made to his GoFundMe and said the crowdfunding campaign was working exactly as he had hoped.

He explained that donors who contribute $20 could potentially stop by for free pizza in the future.

Navarone said he is simply trying to build something for his community while accepting a little help to get the business started.

“I’m trying to help out and get a little help in return,” he said. “And people hate me for it. It’s sad.”