Gone Too Soon: The Most Shocking Celebrities Deaths Of 2020

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UPDATED: 2:27 P.M. ET, September 3rd, 2020 —

This year has been one that will go down in the history books as one of the craziest in recent memory. From the Coronavirus stopping the entire economy to the election of 2020, there will be more than one reason this year will stick out in the future. One of the saddest reasons will be the people we lost in 2020, and unfortunately, we haven’t even reached the halfway point. From Kobe Bryant and Gigi Bryant to Popsmoke, here are the most shocking celebrity deaths of 2020.

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Kobe Bryant & Gigi Bryant
Two of the most surprising deaths of 2020 by far were former Laker and NBA legend Kobe Bryant & his daughter Gigi Bryant. The 41-year-old Bryant and his daughter Gigi were traveling on his private helicopter when it crashed in Calabasas killing everyone on board. The passing came just almost four years after Kobe retired from the LA Lakers and had shifted his life focus to his family and from his love of basketball to his daughter Gigi’s love of the game. Kobe had become an ally for the WNBA helping in any way he could and his passing hit hard on fans everywhere. He passing happened the same day the Grammys were scheduled to take place at the Staples Center. The Staples Center is essentially Kobe’s house and fans flocked to the arena to mourn his death for weeks. Kobe’s funeral was hosted at the Staples Center and every seat was filled with family, friends, competitors, and die-hard fans. The most touching part was Michael Jordan’s heartfelt speech about Kobe which you can watch below.

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Chadwick Boseman

Chadwick Boseman grabbed fans with his stunning performance as T’Challa in The Black Panther. He passed away this month after battling a 4-year-long struggle with colon cancer. The Black Panther was the 11th highest-grossing movie of all time. The sequel to the critically acclaimed film was in the early stages of production and was expected to release on May 6th of 2022.

Boseman’s co-stars in the film quickly took to social media to share their memories of moments spent with the incredible actor. Micheal B Jordan who played the role of Killmonger in the film wrote that he wished he “spent more time” with Chadwick:

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Letitia Wright who played the role of Chadwick’s onscreen little sister, honored the actor with a heartfelt poem:

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“I didn’t know this is what I was waking up to,” she said of hearing the news of Boseman’s death. “An angel on Earth departed.”

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom which stars Boseman alongside Viola Davis was expected to release this month but was postponed due to the actor’s death.

Source: (Photo by Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images) / (Photo by Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images)

PopSmoke

A budding rap star’s life was cut short when “Welcome To The Party” rapper Pop Smoke was shot and killed in the Hollywood Hills during a home invasion. Details are still skimpy but reports stated that in February masked gunmen entered his rental home in Los Angeles around 4:30 a.m. and shot and killed him..
The home Pop Smoke was in was an Air BNB registered to “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave and her husband. The home had cameras and police are still searching for the murderers but have revealed no one is willing to talk or help with the investigation. LAPD released the 911 call from the night of his murder and state the call didn’t originate from Los Angeles. Popsmoke was laid to rest like a king back in New York City and his murder is still under investigation.

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Rev. Joseph E. Lowery

The civil rights movement has lost one of its most dynamic leaders and the city of Atlanta lost one of the pillars of the community.

Rev. Joseph E. Lowery passed away at age 98. A family spokesperson, Imara Canady, stated Lowery died of natural causes. Rev. Lowery worked closely with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Jesse Jackson through some of the most important years in the fight for Black freedom. He was often referred to as the “dean” of the civil rights movement. Rev. Lowery is the definition of a meaningful life as every day he fought toward making the world a better place and causes that would forever change life for African Americans everywhere.

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Ashley ‘Ms. Minnie’ Ross

Ashley “Minnie” Ross passed away after being involved in a car accident. Last month her management confirmed her passing on social media noting that it was an alleged hit-and-run. She was just 34-years-old at the time of her unfortunate passing. Minnie made an impact as part of the Atlanta spinoff of “Little Women L.A.” She previously told our sister site MadameNoire that she wanted viewers to see “the everyday struggle” of little people. In November she brought her jovial spirit to BOSSIP’s Headline Heat recapping headlines for us and announcing plans to release a wig line.

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Fred The Godson

African Americans have become extremely vulnerable to Coronavirus and are more likely to die from the disease than white Americans. In April, it was reported that 35- year old Bronx rapper Fred the Godson has passed away due to complications from Coronavirus. Earlier in April, the 2011 XXL Freshman revealed that he’d been diagnosed with the virus as friends, family, and fans flooded his comments with well wishes.

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Ceybil “Sweet Sable” Jefferies

Sweet Sable — “Old Times’ Sake” from the ‘Above The Rim’ soundtrack Sable, whose real name was Sybil Jefferies is another great talent to lose their life to COVID-19. The passing of Jefferies, who also released music under the name Ceybil Jefferies, was first confirmed on Facebook by friend and co-artist Aaron Paar. Salaam Remi also mourned Jefferies’ death in an Instagram posted last week.

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Tavaris Jackson

Tavaris Jackson, former NFL quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, and Buffalo Bills was killed in a car accident in April. Jackson was in his home state of Alabama driving his red Camaro around 9pm when he hit a tree that sent his car flying into flips and ultimately landing upside down. The photos of the car are absolutely horrific. Tavaris was rushed to the hospital when emergency responders arrived but he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Chynna Rogers

The Hip-Hop world was reeling after the unfortunate passing of a rising rapper Chynna Rogers. The model turned emcee passed away at the age of 25. Chynna was close friends with the late A$AP Mob founder A$AP Yams whom she initially contacted on Twitter and asked to intern for. A$AP Mob has paid their respects to Chynna on social media. Prior to her rap career, Chynna signed to Ford Models at age 14 after being discovered at the amusement park Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J. She did catalog work for the agency for three years and walked runway shows. Later she’d go on to release tracks including 2013’s viral hit “Selfie,” and 2014’s “Glen Coco.”

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Kenny Rogers

Legendary country music singer Kenny Rogers died at age 81. Reports state he died surrounded by his family after spending time in hospice care. A rep said he died of natural causes. Rogers was a Country Music Hall Of Fame artists who’s most popular songs are “The Gambler,” “Coward of the County,” “Lucille,” “Lady” and his #1 duet with Dolly Parton, “Islands in the Stream.”

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Ja’net Dubois

“Good Times” star Ja’net Dubois sadly passed away in February. The actress was found passed away unexpectedly in her sleep, according to reports. The star who played the Evans family’s sassy neighbor Willona Woods on the classic ’70s TV series wad found dead in her Glendale, California home. The star, 74, wasn’t complaining about specific ailments and had recently made a public appearance.

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Nick Gordon

Nick Gordon, former boyfriend of the late Bobbi Kristina has died. Nick Gordon passed away on new years day, January 1, 2020, from a drug overdose. Several outlets also reported that Gordon suffered a number of heart attacks on New Year’s Day as well and was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit at Altamonte Springs Hospital, where he eventually died. Prior to his passing Gordon was found liable in the wrongful death case of Bobbi Kristina after the late daughter of Whitney was found unconscious and unresponsive with drugs in her system in the bathtub of the home she lived in with Gordon. Gordon was ordered to pay $36 million to Bobbi Krissi’s estate, it’s unclear if he made payments towards the amount before his passing.