Stand-up comedian Ken Flores, who kicked off a nationwide tour earlier this month, has died. He was 28.
The comedian, born Kenyi Flores, died on Tuesday, according to online records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner reviewed by USA TODAY. A cause of death was not given.
“It is with great sadness that we confirm the untimely passing of our friend, brother, and son, Kenyi Flores,” the statement read. “Please respect our privacy at this time as we are all shocked and devastated by this loss.”
USA TODAY has reached out to Flores’ representative for additional information.
The Chicago native got his comedic start in his teens by posting videos on YouTube, with some of his clips going viral on WorldStarHipHop, according to Flores’ 2023 interview with The Comedy Gazelle. While working as a bank teller in his early 20s, Flores said he was encouraged by the owner of The Comedy Shrine to perform at the Aurora venue’s open mic event.
“If you get that one big pop, you get bit by the stand-up bug and you’re addicted,” Flores told the outlet. “Ever since I went up the first time, I couldn’t stop.”
Flores launched his headlining Butterfly Effect Tour on Jan. 10 in Portland, Oregon. The comedian was set to hit the stage in cities such as Nashville, Tennessee; Philadelphia; Austin, Texas; and San Diego through April. Flores’ next show was scheduled for Thursday at the Desert Ridge Improv in Phoenix, according to his official website.
Regarding his career aspirations, Flores told The Comedy Gazelle that he wanted to “tour for the rest of my life, write new material, and make people happy.”
“There’s a lot of people like me around the world that think like me, and we just don’t have a voice,” Flores said. “There are Latino comics, like Gabriel Iglesias, but he’s not like me. He didn’t grow up in the hood. He wasn’t a drug addict. He didn’t grow up like me, so he doesn’t speak for me.
“But there’s a lot of people that I can speak for that don’t really have a voice in comedy. One of the things that makes me the happiest is when people tell me, ‘This is the first time I’ve ever gone to a comedy show. I relate to all your (stuff), bro, and I had to come see it.’ “
Several of Flores’ peers in the comedy world took to social media to mourn the comedian’s death, including the comedy venue the Hollywood Improv.
“We were honored to share your talent on our stages,” the venue wrote in a tribute on Instagram. “You were greatness, and it was only a matter of time until the whole world saw it. You were also kind and a tremendous friend to all lucky enough to know you. We love you Ken, thank you for all the laughs.”
“My brother, it was a blessing to know you and share you with the world. You changed my life,” René Humberto Valdiviezo wrote. “You had so much left to do. My heart hurts for everyone whose life you made better.”
“I was hoping this wasn’t real ” Neema Naz commented. “What a tragic and devastating loss to the world. Ken was a gem and was going to be a star one day. RIP “
“Ken Thank you for all amazing times, the laughter, the jokes, you will be missed RIP ,” Los Desvelados wrote.
“Always happy to see and hang with him backstage. May his memory be a blessing ,” Darren Carter commented.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the tragic passing of stand-up comedian, Max Johnson, at the young age of 28. Known for his sharp wit, infectious humor, and undeniable stage presence, Max was a rising star in the comedy world.
His untimely death has left his family, friends, and fans devastated. Max had a unique ability to make people laugh and brighten up any room he walked into. He will be remembered for his quick jokes, hilarious anecdotes, and his larger-than-life personality.
Max’s passion for comedy was evident in every performance he gave, and he had a promising future ahead of him. His absence will be deeply felt in the comedy community, as he leaves behind a legacy of laughter and joy.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Max’s loved ones during this difficult time. Rest in peace, Max Johnson. Your humor will be sorely missed.
Taiye Bello, a former Gopher women’s basketball player, has died.
“We are saddened to hear about the passing of Gopher Women’s Basketball alumna, Taiye Bello,” The University of Minnesota women’s basketball team wrote on X on Friday. “Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends during this difficult time.
Bello played forward for the Gophers from 2016-2020. In her junior year, she averaged more than 11 rebounds per game.
Bello was born in Southfield, Mich., in 1998. She and her twin sister, Kehinde, were part of Southfield-Lathrup High School’s final senior class before the school’s closing. Kehinde Bello also played for the Gophers.
A 2017 University of Minnesota release about Taiye Bello said she majored in computer science.
A cause of death was not announced.
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It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of Taiye Bello, former Gopher basketball standout. Bello was a beloved member of the University of Minnesota women’s basketball team, known for her tenacity on the court and her infectious spirit off of it.
Bello’s impact on the program was undeniable, as she consistently displayed a strong work ethic and dedication to her craft. Her passion for the game inspired her teammates and coaches alike, and her presence will be sorely missed.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Bello’s family and loved ones during this difficult time. May her memory live on through the countless lives she touched and the legacy she leaves behind. Rest in peace, Taiye Bello. You will always be remembered as a shining star in the Gopher basketball community.
Zakia Jafri was the wife of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri killed in the 2002 Gujarat riots
Zakia Jafri, widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri killed in the 2002 Gujarat riots, died in Ahmedabad at 86.
Zakia Jafri’s husband was killed in Gujarat riots 2002.
“My mother was visiting my sister’s house in Ahmedabad. She completed her daily morning routine and was chatting normally with her family members when she complained of feeling uneasy. The doctor who was called in declared her dead at around 11:30 am,” her son Tanveer Jafri told PTI.
“Zakia Appa, a compassionate leader of the human rights community passed away just 30 minutes ago! Her visionary presence will be missed by d nation family friends & world! Tanveer Bhai, Nishrin, Duraiyaappa, grandkids we are with you! Rest in Power and Peace Zakia appa! #ZakiaJafri,” social activist Teesta Setalvad, who was co-complainant in Jafri’s protest petition in the Supreme Court, posted on X.
Jafri’s husband Ehsan Jafri was among 69 persons who were killed inside Gulbarg Society, a Muslim neighbourhood in Ahmedabad, on February 28, 2002, after violence broke out in Gujarat a day after coaches of the Sabarmati Express train were burnt in Godhra, resulting in the deaths of 59 ‘karsevaks’ returning from Ayodhya.
The incident triggered horrific rioting across the state. Zakia Jafri hit the national headlines as she waged a legal battle all the way to the Supreme Court in a bid to hold top political leaders accountable for the large conspiracy for the riots post the Godhra train burning episode
Zakia Jafri’s legal battle in Gujarat Riots 2002
Zakia Jafri filed a petition seeking a probe into allegations of a larger conspiracy and questioning the clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and 63 others in the Gujarat riots 2002.
PM Modi was then the chief minister of Gujarat. The top court in 2022 rejected Jafri’s plea calling it devoid of merit.
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Zakia Jafri, widow of Congress MP Ehsan Jafri killed in the 2002 Gujarat riots, dies at 86 | Latest News India
It is with great sadness that we share the news of Zakia Jafri’s passing at the age of 86. Zakia Jafri was the widow of Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, who was brutally killed in the 2002 Gujarat riots.
Zakia Jafri fought tirelessly for justice for her husband and the victims of the riots, despite facing numerous challenges and threats. Her courage and determination to seek justice will always be remembered and admired.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Jafri family during this difficult time. May Zakia Jafri’s soul rest in peace.
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Zakia Jafri, Ehsan Jafri, 2002 Gujarat riots, Congress MP, widow, death, India news, latest news, Zakia Jafri death, 86 years old, Gujarat riots victim, Congress party, political news, human rights activist
Zakia Jafri, widow of former Congress MP Ahsan Jafri and survivor of the Gulberg Society massacre which followed the Godhra train burning incident on February 27, 2002, died in Ahmedabad Saturday following age-related issues. She was 86.
Zakia, who was with her US-based daughter Nishrin in Ahmedabad, passed away around 11.30 am, confirmed her son Tanveer, who lives in Surat. She is likely to be laid to rest beside her husband in Ahmedabad.
Till 2023, Zakia regularly visited the remains of her home in Gulberg Society on the anniversary of the massacre. Having fought a long-drawn legal battle against the Gujarat government since 2006, she had become the face of the fight for justice for the victims of the post-Godhra riots.
In 2022, the Supreme Court dismissed her plea challenging the clean chit given by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to then Gujarat chief minister and now Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several others in the 2002 Gujarat riots.
Ahsan Jafri was among the 68 killed inside the gated Gulberg Society in the Chamanpura area of Ahmedabad on February 28, 2002. In 2006, Zakia submitted a complaint stating that the police had not registered a complaint against Modi and other top politicians in connection with the violence.
Her call for justice led the Supreme Court to order a re-investigation into the nine big riot cases including the Gulberg Society case by an SIT which eventually filed a closure report in 2012.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Zakia Jafri, a survivor of the 2002 Gujarat riots and a tireless legal crusader for justice. Jafri, 86, passed away in Ahmedabad, leaving behind a legacy of strength, resilience, and unwavering dedication to seeking justice for the victims of the horrific violence that swept through the state.
Despite facing unimaginable loss and trauma during the riots, Jafri never wavered in her pursuit of justice. She filed a complaint against top politicians and police officials, accusing them of complicity in the violence that claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent people, including her husband Ehsan Jafri. Her legal battle spanned nearly two decades, culminating in a Supreme Court verdict that upheld the clean chit given to the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi and others.
Jafri’s fight for justice inspired many and her courage in the face of adversity will always be remembered. Her passing is a great loss to the human rights movement in India and serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for accountability and justice for the victims of communal violence.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Zakia Jafri’s family and loved ones during this difficult time. May her legacy continue to inspire future generations to stand up for truth and justice.
Friends of Temple student killed falling from pole share their grief
18-year-old Tyler Sabapathy died after he fell from a pole in Center City while celebrating the Eagles win. His devastated friends shared their grief, expressing what a good man he was.
PHILADELPHIA – A night of joyous celebrations took a terrifying turn that claimed the life of a young Eagles fan, according to sources.
What we know:
Philadelphia police confirmed to FOX 29’s Kelly Rule that an 18-year-old man landed on his head after falling from a pole near 15th and Market streets on Sunday night.
He was taken to a local hospital, where he was put in very critical condition, according to authorities, who say he fell on his own.
On Tuesday night, sources told FOX 29 that the 18-year-old, a student at Temple University, had died.
Video captures moment teen falls from pole while celebrating Eagles win
An 18-year-old Temple University student has died, sources say, after he fell from a pole while celebrating the Eagles Super Bowl berth. A video captures the moment the incident occurred.
What they’re saying:
On Tuesday, Temple University released the following announcement to students and colleagues titled “Tragic News to Share:”
“It is with deep sadness that we write to share news of the death of first-year student Tyler Sabapathy. Over the weekend, Tyler sustained critical injuries and ultimately passed away this afternoon.
The loss of a promising 18-year-old man like Tyler is both tragic and traumatic. There are no words that can make sense of it, and the entire Temple community mourns his passing. Our hearts go out to Tyler’s family, friends, classmates and all who knew and loved him.
A native of Toronto, Canada, Tyler was already a thriving student within Temple University’s College of Public Health, where he was majoring in exercise and sport science. As an accomplished gymnast with more than 120 medals in provincial, regional and international competitions, Tyler was fascinated with injury prevention, and this ultimately led him to pursue the major that he did. He no doubt had a bright future ahead of him, and it is so tragic that we will not be able to see how he would have made his mark on the world.
As a member of the university’s club gymnastics team, Tyler displayed exceptional self-discipline and work ethic, spending countless hours a week training and honing his craft. He was loved by his teammates, friends and coaches here in Philadelphia.
Temple University is committed to supporting our community during this time of unspeakable loss. We encourage students to seek available support services at Tuttleman Counseling Services, located at 1700 N. Broad St., which offers a range of resources. For more information on services and hours of operation, call 215-204-7276 or visit the Tuttleman Counseling Services website.
For faculty and staff members, our employee assistance program offers support and resources 24/7 online or by calling 1-888-267-8126. Employees and students can also contact Temple’s Psychological Services Center at psc@temple.edu, or 215-204-7100.
Once again, we extend our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies to those closest to Tyler, especially his parents and siblings. He will be deeply missed.”
Dig deeper:
Temple University freshman students and teammates of 18-year-old Tyler Sabapathy are devastated, remembering him as a beloved student and talented athlete.
Junior Robert Stewart says he’s cherishing the moments he had with him, as he supervises the Men’s Gymnastics Team practices.
“To hear that of all sports, but of all people of that to happen to, is Tyler, is actually pretty upsetting. It’s shocking. It’s hard to honestly comprehend,” says Stewart. “He was a beautiful student, he was amazing, he was nice, he was sweet, he was kind.’
Students tell FOX 29 they are feeling differently about the celebrations now, but want some of the negative feedback on social media to stop.
“It’s the culture of the city so please don’t make a mockery of it. It was an accident,” says Stewart.
Ray Epstein, Temple’s student body president, says the tragedy should be used as a message of caution.
“We can celebrate easily and happily without necessarily continuing this tradition,” she says. “As much as it’s been something that’s been positive for people, this is a sign that it needs to come to an end, and it’s nobody’s fault because people were participating in a long-held culture, but we need to disrupt it.”
A spokesperson for Temple University said they sent out the following message to students before the NFC Championship game, and will be sending out similar messaging before the Super Bowl.
Dear Temple University Students,
This Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles face the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game for the chance to compete in Super Bowl LIX. The excitement is palpable across the city, surrounding counties, and beyond!
While such moments unite fans in celebration, history has shown that post-game festivities can sometimes lead to destructive or unsafe behavior. At Temple University, your safety and the well-being of our community remain our top priorities. We ask that all students keep the following in mind:
Stay Responsible: Acts of vandalism, refusal to disperse, or destruction of property could result in both criminal charges and university disciplinary action. Sanctions may include fines or even immediate suspension. Please note that surveillance will be increased both on campus and in the city during the game.
Respect Our Community: Temple takes pride in fostering strong relationships with our neighbors. Celebrations that damage property or disrupt our community will not be tolerated.
Celebrate Safely: If the Eagles win, the city and state will coordinate official celebrations on a designated day, ensuring plenty of opportunities to revel responsibly.
Lead by Example: As members of the Temple community, you are leaders. Let’s show what it means to celebrate with spirit and respect.
We encourage everyone to play a role in keeping this moment memorable for all the right reasons. If you have any concerns, please reach out to the Office of the Dean of Students or Campus Safety Services.
Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to the Temple community. Let’s make this a historic and joyous time—Go Birds!
The backstory:
Eagles fans start climbing poles as Birds head to Super Bowl
Eagles fans are already climbing poles as they celebrate the Birds’ victory against the Washington Commanders.
Sabapathy was one of many to climb poles across the city as hundreds of Eagles fans gathered to celebrate the team’s championship win against the Commanders.
The poles are typically greased by the city prior to big sports games in an effort to deter climbing, but many fans over the years have made it to the top regardless.
The Source: Information from this article was provided by the Philadelphia Police Department, Temple University officials, students and friends.
I’m deeply saddened to report that Tyler Sabapathy, an 18-year-old Eagles fan, has tragically passed away after falling from a pole during a celebration following the team’s victory. According to sources, Tyler was celebrating with friends when the accident occurred, resulting in his untimely death. Our thoughts and prayers are with Tyler’s family and loved ones during this difficult time. Rest in peace, Tyler. Fly high, Eagles fan. #TylerSabapathy #EaglesFan #RestInPeace
Tags:
Tyler Sabapathy, Eagles fan, Eagles fan Tyler Sabapathy, Eagles fan dies, Tyler Sabapathy death, Tyler Sabapathy pole accident, Tyler Sabapathy tragedy, Tyler Sabapathy news, Tyler Sabapathy update, Eagles fan death, Eagles fan pole accident, Eagles fan tragedy, Eagles fan news, Eagles fan update, Tyler Sabapathy memorial, Tyler Sabapathy tribute.
A 5-year-old boy from Royal Oak died Friday morning during an explosion of hyperbaric chamber at a Troy medical center, police said.
The medical facility, The Oxford Center, is located at 165 Kirts Boulevard. The explosion happened shortly before 8 a.m. and police said the boy was found dead inside the chamber. His mother was there with him at the facility.
The Oxford Center’s website says that it provides therapy for children with numerous conditions, like autism, cancers, ADHD, autoimmune diseases, and a slew of others.
Troy Fire Lt. Keith Young said investigators do not yet know what exactly caused the explosion, but concentrated oxygen used in hyperbaric chambers are fuel for fire.
The chamber contains 100 percent oxygen, which is up to three times the amount of oxygen that is in a normal room, according to a press release from the Troy Police Department.
For decades, hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been used to relieve the effects of decompression sickness for scuba divers, to help firefighters, miners and others who have carbon monoxide poisoning, to improve the success of skin grafts and to speed up healing of infections, such as diabetic foot ulcers and gangrene, and in treatment of crush injuries, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Here’s how it works: People enter into either a monoplace chamber, which is built for one person, or a mulitplace chamber, which can fit two or more people.
In a monoplace chamber, a person lies down in a long, plastic tube that resembles an MRI machine. In a multiplace chamber, people breathe through masks or hoods.
Pure oxygen is pumped into a pressurized chamber, mask or hood and people inside breathe in the concentrated oxygen, which enters the bloodstream and tissues to boost healing and recovery from injury and helps the body fight infections.
Johns Hopkins Medicine reports that each session can last from 45 minutes to five hours, depending on the reason for the treatment.
The Oxford Center is among other alternative medical centers or medical spas who, in recent years, have offered hyperbaric oxygen therapy for conditions that are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, such as autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, sports injuries, COVID-19, depression, alopecia, HIV/AIDS, strokes, migraine headaches, and as an anti-aging treatment, the Cleveland Clinic reports.
The Oxford Center, which has locations in Brighton and Troy, has generated controversy. In August, the facility’s former director Kimberly Coden pleaded guilty to nine charges after officials with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office said she used false credentials to treat children with autism.
She falsely presented herself as a board-certified behavioral analyst without being licensed and without the proper education and used an actual analyst’s certification to get jobs within the health sector, officials said. And she’d also used professional business cards, verbal statements, written documents and presented university degrees she allegedly didn’t earn.
Coden also tried to intimidate a witness through text messages to keep them from testifying against her, officials said.
When Coden pleaded guilty, her lawyer said her client was “really, truly remorseful.”
Hazards of hyperbaric chambers
A study was published in the medical journal Lancet reviewing hyperbaric chamber fires over 77 years, from 1923 to 1996, and found that 77 people died in 35 fires. Before 1980, most of the fires were caused by electrical ignition. But since then, they were sparked by something that was carried into the hyperbaric chamber.
Officials in Friday’s explosion at the Oxford Center said they don’t know whether someone brought something into the chamber before it exploded, but acknowledged the chambers create an environment that is “extremely combustible.”
The National Fire Protection Association has written about the district hazards associated with hyperbaric facilities, including the increased pressure and presence of elevated oxygen levels.
In a Aug. 2021 blog post from the National Fire Protection Association, Brian O’Connor wrote:
“While oxygen itself is not flammable, it is an oxidizer that supports combustion and can increase the flammability of other materials,” Brian O’Connor of the association wrote in Aug. 2021, including flame-resistant fabrics and materials.
“This means that care must be taken to prevent any means of ignition from entering the oxygen-enriched environment, since the conditions exist for a fire to grow rapidly.”
O’Connor wrote that another fire safety problem with hyperbaric chamber facilities is that it’s difficult to evacuate the chamber when fires do occur.
“Since these chambers are pressurized, they must undergo a decompression process before occupants can safely exit. The process is required to take no more than six minutes for (multiplace) chambers and two minutes for (monoplace chambers) when returning from three times standard atmospheric pressure,” he wrote.
“These facts, he said, make it vital to ensure that any facility that uses a hyperbaric chamber adhere to strict fire safety regulations, such as allowing only certain fabrics to be worn and restricting other flammable materials to be brought inside the chamber, installing specialty sprinkler systems, and in some cases, independently supplied handlines.”
Troy’s Fire Lt. Keith Young said the state oversees hyperbaric medical chambers.
Free Press writer Darcie Moran contributed to this report.
Tragic news struck the community of Troy as a young boy lost his life in an explosion at a medical facility. The incident occurred in a hyperbaric chamber, a device used for medical treatments involving increased levels of oxygen.
The boy, whose identity has not been released, was undergoing treatment in the hyperbaric chamber when the explosion occurred. Emergency services were called to the scene, but sadly, the boy could not be saved.
The exact cause of the explosion is still under investigation, and authorities are working to determine what led to this devastating incident. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and loved ones of the boy who lost his life in this tragic accident.
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The news was confirmed by her spokesperson, who said in a statement: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of the singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull.
“Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family. She will be dearly missed.”
Born in Hampstead, London, to a Viennese mother with links to Austrian nobility and an MI6 agent who abandoned the family when she was six, Faithfull first began performing as a singer in 1964. She was introduced to Mick Jagger at London’s Indica Gallery, co-owned by her first husband, the artist John Dunbar, and began her association with the Rolling Stones when she recorded “As Tears Go By”. Written by Jagger, Keith Richards and Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham – who dismissed Faithfull as “an angel with big tits” but thought he could make her a star – the song made the Top 10 in the UK.
When her marriage to Dunbar collapsed, she moved in with Brian Jones and Anita Pallenberg and began a relationship with Jagger, becoming a frequent target of the tabloids, not least during the infamous drugs bust at Richards’ Sussex mansion in 1967, when her singing career ground to a halt. “They hurt my feelings, all those busts and harassment,” she told The Independent in a 2008 interview. “I’m not saying I behaved that well, but I didn’t really do anything that terrible either.”
That same year, she launched an acting career with her debut theatre appearance in a stage adaptation of Chekhov’s Three Sisters at the Royal Court Theatre, opposite Glenda Jackson, and in Michael Winner’s comedy-drama I’ll Never Forget What’sisname opposite Orson Welles and Oliver Reed.
Faithfull and Jagger on their way to Marlborough Street Court on a charge of possessing cannabis, 1969 (Photo by Michael Webb/Keystone/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
A year later, Faithfull suffered a miscarriage of her and Jagger’s child, and their relationship ended. By the time he left her, she had also lost custody of her son, Nicholas, her son by Dunbar, along with the credit for her bleak 1969 song “Sister Morphine” – ostensibly because the Stones feared she would spend any money it made on drugs (her name was finally reinstated in the Nineties).
Marianne Faithfull with Anita Pallenberg at Heathrow Airport, 1967 (Getty Images)
Hitting rock bottom, Faithfull spent two years living on the streets of Soho while suffering from heroin addiction and anorexia. “It’s very, very strange to think about it,” she told The Guardian in 2007. “It was such a degraded moment, to live on a wall and shoot drugs.” Yet she insisted it was “exactly what I needed at that time… It was complete anonymity. I wanted to disappear – and I did.”
In a 2009 interview with director Mike Figg for the book Destroy/Rankin, Faithfull elaborated on how being exposed to scrutiny as a woman in the public eye had a lasting impact on her sense of self, to the point that she couldn’t bear to see herself in photographs.
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Marianne Faithfull with her son, Nicholas, in 1967 (Getty Images)
“When you are 18, 19, 20, you’re used to being photographed all the time, in a certain way,” she said. “So, the narcissism becomes almost out of control. And the way that young women are photographed, they become addicted to this feedback of the image. I’m still dealing with it.” She was contemptuous of her status as a “muse” to rock stars, too: “That’s a s*** thing to be,” she scoffed in a Guardian interview. “It’s a terrible job. You don’t get any male muses, do you? Can you think of one? No.”
After an intervention from friends, she was enrolled in an NHS treatment programme for her heroin addiction. She was a survivor who suffered three miscarriages, breast cancer, hepatitus C and Covid-related pneumonia, and whose famous words uttered as she recovered from a drug-induced coma in 1969 – “wild horses couldn’t drag me away” – inspired the Rolling Stones song. “I see myself as strong, terrifically strong,” she told The Independent. “I mean, I’ve survived, haven’t I?”
Marianne Faithfull with her first husband, John Dunbar, 1965 (Getty Images)
The destructive path she’d been on, which those watching had struggled to make sense of, was explained to her years later, when she received further treatment for a sleeping pill addiction at Crossroads, the rehab clinic founded by Eric Clapton. “I was told that I had very likely been clinically depressed for a long, long time, probably since I was 15, or even 14,” she said. “It explained, to me at least, a lot of my behaviour over the years.”
She made a triumphant return to music in 1979 with Broken English, a critical and commercial hit that earnt her a Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. “I made a decision to really, completely give my heart to the whole thing, and that’s what happened,” she told The Guardian in 2021.
“I was quite smart enough to realise that I had a lot to learn… I didn’t go to Oxford, but I went to Olympic Studios and watched The Rolling Stones record, and I watched The Beatles record as well,” she continued. “I watched the best people working and…because of Mick, I guess, I watched people writing, too – a brilliant artist at the top of his game. I watched how he wrote and I learnt a lot, and I will always be grateful.”
Faithfull poses for a portrait session to promote her movie ‘Irina Palm’ at the 57th Berlin International Film Festival, 2007 (Getty Images)
The record itself, she felt, was overlooked by many: “When they compiled the 100 best records of the century back in 2000, Broken English was nowhere to be seen,” she told The Independent in 2011. “Which I think was just absurd.” But it marked the second act of her music career, and with it a new boldness that also saw her
Faithfull also collaborated with a number of fellow musicians in the second act of her career, including Beck, PJ Harvey, Lou Reed, Cat Power, Anohni, Pulp, and Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds.
In 2021, she brought her teenage passion for the Romantic poets to She Walks in Beauty, her collaboration with Warren Ellis, Cave and Brian Eno. Writers such as Keats, Tennyson and Byron had “been with Marianne her whole life”, Ellis said. “She believes in these texts. That world, she inhabits it, embodies it, and that really comes through.”
Critics agreed. “Those who dismissed Faithfull as just Jagger’s ‘bird’ back in the Sixties can surely do so no longer,” Helen Brown wrote in her five-star review for The Independent.
“While her old knight is now chugging out the sub-Status Quo pandemic schlock of “Easy Sleazy”, Faithfull is rising from the ashes of the past, breathing fierce, sharp magic into these old words. She’s a time-conquering dragon queen.”
She is survived by her son, Nicholas, and her half-brother, Simon Faithfull.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Marianne Faithfull, a leading light of the Swinging Sixties, at the age of 78. The iconic singer, actress, and songwriter was known for her unique voice, powerful lyrics, and undeniable charisma.
Faithfull rose to fame in the 1960s with hits like “As Tears Go By” and “Come and Stay With Me,” and became a symbol of the era’s cultural revolution. Her music, style, and attitude inspired countless artists and fans around the world.
Throughout her career, Faithfull continued to push boundaries and explore new musical territories, collaborating with artists from diverse genres and backgrounds. Her powerful voice and fearless attitude made her a true trailblazer in the music industry.
Marianne Faithfull will be remembered for her incredible talent, her fearless spirit, and her enduring impact on music and popular culture. She will be deeply missed, but her legacy will live on forever. Our thoughts and condolences are with her family, friends, and fans during this difficult time. Rest in peace, Marianne Faithfull.
Marianne Faithfull, whose six-decade career marked her out as one of the UK’s most versatile and characterful singer-songwriters, has died aged 78.
A spokesperson said: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of the singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull.
“Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family. She will be dearly missed.”
With a discography that spanned classic 60s pop tunes to the prowling synthpop of Broken English and onto collaborations with Nick Cave, Warren Ellis, Lou Reed and more, Faithfull was idolised by fans and fellow musicians alike, and was also celebrated across the worlds of fashion and film.
Born in 1946 in London, Faithfull was descended from Austrian nobility on her mother’s side – her great-great-uncle Leopold von Sacher-Masoch wrote the erotic novel Venus in Furs – but grew up in relatively ordinary surroundings in a terraced house in Reading.
After leaving for London in her teens, she met Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham, who asked Mick Jagger and Keith Richards to write her 1964 debut single As Tears Go By, which hit the UK Top 10. She had three other Top 10 singles in 1965, all of which also reached the Top 40 in the US.
With Alain Delon in the 1968 film Girl on a Motorcycle. Photograph: Moviestore/Rex/Shutterstock
Faithfull also began acting at that time, appearing on stage in productions of Chekhov’s Three Sisters, alongside Glenda Jackson, and Hamlet, playing Ophelia with Anjelica Huston as her understudy and performing each night’s climactic “madness” scene, she later revealed, high on heroin.
On screen, she acted alongside Orson Welles, Oliver Reed, Alain Delon and Anna Karina, and played herself in Jean-Luc Godard’s 1966 film Made in the USA.
Her fame as an icon of “swinging London” was superseded, though, by the infamy that came from her relationship with the Rolling Stones. She had married artist John Dunbar in 1965 and had a son, Nicholas, but soon left Dunbar for Mick Jagger, with whom she had a four-year relationship.
She was often described as a muse for the band: she once told Jagger “wild horses couldn’t drag me away”, which became the chorus line to Wild Horses, and her drug struggles also proved inspirational for the songs Dear Doctor and You Can’t Always Get What You Want. She said: “I know they used me as a muse for those tough drug songs. I knew I was being used, but it was for a worthy cause.”
She co-wrote her song Sister Morphine, recorded with Jagger, Richards and Ry Cooder, and later recorded by the Rolling Stones for their album Sticky Fingers, but her writing credit was left off until she won a protracted legal battle.
Marianne Faithfull and Mick Jagger in 1969. Photograph: Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images
Her addiction to cocaine and heroin worsened, and her reputation was damaged by being discovered naked, wrapped in a fur rug after having a shower, during a 1967 police search of Keith Richards’ house, alongside Richards, Jagger and six other men (described by one person as an innocent gathering “of pure domesticity”). “It destroyed me,” she later said. “To be a male drug addict and to act like that is always enhancing and glamorising. A woman in that situation becomes a slut and a bad mother.”
In 1970, Faithfull lost custody of her son, split with Jagger and became homeless, living on the streets of Soho in London as she tried to quit heroin. “I’d been living in a very fake sort of world in the 60s,” she said in 2016. “Suddenly, when I was living on the streets … I realised that human beings were really good. The Chinese restaurant let me wash my clothes there. The man who had the tea stall gave me cups of tea.” She slowly turned her life around, ending an almost decade-long spell away from music with the country album Dreamin’ My Dreams in 1976.
She cemented her comeback with one of her most acclaimed albums, 1979’s Grammy-nominated Broken English, embracing synth-pop and post-punk with an affectingly raw, deepened voice. She quit drugs for good in 1985, and regularly released music throughout the rest of her career. Her collaborators over the years included Nick Cave, Damon Albarn, Emmylou Harris, Beck and Metallica. She released 21 studio albums in total.
Faithfull married and divorced two additional times, to Ben Brierly of punk band the Vibrators, and actor Giorgio Della Terza. “I’ve had a wonderful life with all my lovers, and husbands,” she said in 2011, excepting Della Terza: “He was American, and he was a nightmare.”
There were other acting roles, too, notably playing God in two episodes of the sitcom Absolutely Fabulous; the devil in a 2004 production of The Black Rider, a musical by Tom Waits and William Burroughs; and empress Maria Theresa in Sofia Coppola’s film Marie Antoinette.
Marianne Faithfull performs at the Bataclan concert hall in Paris, November 2016. Photograph: François Guillot/AFP/Getty Images
In her later years, she lived in Paris, and reacted to the terror attack at the city’s Bataclan concert venue, which killed 90 people in 2015, with a song called They Come at Night written on the day of the attacks.
Faithfull had numerous health issues. In 2007, she announced she had the liver illness hepatitis C, having been diagnosed 12 years previously. She had successful surgery following a breast cancer diagnosis in 2006, and weathered numerous joint ailments in her later years, including arthritis. In the early 70s, she also suffered from anorexia during her heroin addiction. In 2020, she contracted Covid-19 and was hospitalised for 22 days.
She is survived by her son, Nicholas Dunbar.
It is with heavy hearts that we bid farewell to Marianne Faithfull, a singular icon of British pop music. The legendary singer, songwriter, and actress passed away at the age of 78, leaving behind a legacy that will forever be etched in the annals of music history.
Marianne Faithfull rose to fame in the 1960s with her hauntingly beautiful voice and captivating stage presence. Her hits such as “As Tears Go By” and “Broken English” showcased her immense talent and versatility as an artist. She was known for her distinctive voice, raw lyrics, and fearless approach to her music, which set her apart from her peers.
Throughout her career, Marianne Faithfull faced many challenges and obstacles, including battles with addiction and health issues. However, she always persevered and continued to create music that resonated with audiences around the world. Her ability to connect with listeners on a deep emotional level was unparalleled, making her a beloved figure in the music industry.
Marianne Faithfull’s influence on the British pop scene cannot be overstated. She paved the way for countless artists with her fearless attitude, unapologetic style, and innovative approach to music. Her legacy will live on through her timeless songs, powerful performances, and unrelenting spirit.
As we mourn the loss of Marianne Faithfull, let us remember her as a trailblazer, a visionary, and a true original. She will forever be remembered as one of the greatest icons of British pop music, and her music will continue to inspire generations to come. Rest in peace, Marianne Faithfull. You will be dearly missed.
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Singer and actress Marianne Faithfull has died at the age of 78, a spokesperson has said.
Faithfull’s hits included As Tears Go By, which was written by The Rolling Stones’ Sir Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
In addition to her music career, Faithfull also acted in films including The Girl on a Motorcycle, as well as theatre productions.
Singer Marianne Faithfull performs during ‘Here There and Everywhere – a Concert for Linda McCartney’ at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
“Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family.
“She will be dearly missed.”
Faithfull began her singing career in 1964, after being discovered by Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham.
She released her self-titled debut album in 1965, which featured her UK number nine hit single, along with number four hit Come And Stay With Me, at the same time as follow-up LP Come My Way, largely made up of folk covers.
From 1966 to 1970, Faithfull was in a highly-publicised relationship with Sir Mick following his split from model and actress Chrissie Shrimpton.
Her first hit, As Tears Go By, was written by Sir Mick and Richards, and was followed up with a series of successful singles, including Come And Stay with Me, This Little Bird and Summer Nights.
She was famously found wearing nothing except a rug at an infamous drugs bust at Rolling Stones guitarist Richards’ country house, Redlands, in 1967.
Following her split with Sir Mick, Faithfull spent two years on the streets of Soho while addicted to heroin before living in a squat.
Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull, 22, in London when they were due to appear at Marlborough Street Court. They are accused of possessing the drug cannabis at Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, London (PA)
Faithfull re-invented herself in 1987 as a jazz and blues singer, with the critically acclaimed Strange Weather, and in the same decade went into rehab.
Recently she has enjoyed a resurgence and is said to be admired by the likes of Kate Moss and Courtney Love.
The daughter of a British military officer and an Austro-Hungarian Jewish baroness, Faithfull recently appeared in Sofia Coppola’s film Marie Antoinette.
She made guest star appearances as God in the TV sitcom Absolutely Fabulous.
Early films included I’ll Never Forget What’s ‘Is Name, alongside Orson Welles, and Girl On A Motorcycle.
It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of singer and actress Marianne Faithfull’s passing at the age of 78. Faithfull was a true icon in the music industry, known for her distinctive voice and powerful performances.
Throughout her career, Faithfull released numerous albums and singles that showcased her incredible talent and versatility as a singer. She also had a successful acting career, appearing in films such as “Girl on a Motorcycle” and “Irina Palm.”
Faithfull’s impact on the music and entertainment world will never be forgotten, and she will always be remembered for her contributions to art and culture. Our thoughts and condolences go out to her family, friends, and fans during this difficult time. Rest in peace, Marianne Faithfull.
Singer and actress Marianne Faithfull has died at the age of 78, her spokesperson has said.
Faithfull was known for hits that included As Tears Go By, which reached the UK top 10 in 1964, and starring roles in films including 1968’s The Girl On A Motorcycle.
She was also famously the girlfriend of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger in the 1960s, and went on to resurrect her career after hitting hard times in the 70s.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of the singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull,” a statement said.
“Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family.
“She will be dearly missed.”
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Today, we mourn the loss of the talented singer and actress who has passed away at the age of 78. Her incredible voice and unforgettable performances on screen will forever be remembered by her fans around the world. Our thoughts are with her loved ones during this difficult time. Rest in peace.
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