Def Jam Executive Vice President Shakir Stewart, 34, died Saturday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound near Atlanta.
Stewart was found around 4 p.m. Saturday in the bathroom of his home in the Atlanta suburb of Marietta, Cobb County police spokeswoman Cassie Reece said Sunday. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
He was promoted to Executive VP in June following the resignation of Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter. He also retained his duties as senior VP of A&R at Island Def Jam.
On Sunday, his fiancée, Michelle Rivers, released a joint statement with his family:
“We would like to thank Shakir’s friends for the tremendous outpouring of love and support we have received during this difficult time,” the statement reads. “It has helped us to cope with our overwhelming grief and sadness. It is difficult to express or explain in words what led to the tragic occurrence on Saturday. Over the past several weeks, Shakir’s behavior was inconsistent with the man we all know and love. As much as we all tried to help him, Shakir was in deep pain and largely suffering in silence. Please remember Shakir for who he was … a wonderful father, partner, son and friend.”
HUDSON MEMORIAL
Hundreds lined the street in front of Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago to pay their respects in a public memorial to Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew.
During the service, several mourners spoke, sang and offered recollections of 57-year-old Darnell Donerson, 29-year-old Jason Hudson and 7-year-old Julian King.
A private, invitation-only service is scheduled to be held Monday at 9 a.m. at Chicago’s Apostolic Church of God. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the newly-created domestic violence fund:
Seaway Bank and Trust
P.O. Box 19522
Chicago, IL 60619
ANOTHER DRAGGING DEATH
The dragging death of 24-year-old Brandon McClelland raises racial tensions in Texas, just as the death of James Byrd did a decade ago. Black activists and the victim’s mother, Jacquline McClelland, are calling it a racist attack. However, a suspect’s sister, Krystala Boyd, says, “This was no hate crime. You can’t hate somebody you love.”
Shannon Keith Finley and Charles Ryan Crostley face up to life in prison if convicted. The grand jury is scheduled to convene Nov. 13.
I agree with #42. Biblically if a person kills themselves they go to hell, but everybody doesnt think biblically. Though we are ALL entitled to our opinions we must use tact when expressing them. If we are going to take things from the bible, we need to think biblically as well. The bible talks highly of compassion and empathy. A person is dead and regardless of what happens with him in his afterlife, there are people hurt by it so saying that you dont care or that they dont matter because they are going to hell, is simply ridiculous. If you dont have anything nice to say, and you just CANT close your mouth, say whatever it is respectfully.
I think the foundation is a good idea, I just wonder about why they had to do it so soon. I would have expected them to take some time to heal first, but that’s how MY family roll’s. I dont know about how they handle their business so I wont speculate.
The dragging death? Now, I’m the first one to stand up and scream THAT’S RACIST! This guy was hanging out drinking with two “friends” who were white when one of them struck him with his car. If you run something over it either is hit so hard it bounces away from the car or rolls underneath where it can become caught underneath and dragged for a short time. I understand why the DA hasnt said anything about racism but I do think it needs to be looked into. I would question why they hit him to begin with and what took them so long to stop.
— i will say a prayer , for Jen , Gods bless ur life .
@#4, That thang is busy, his shoes are smoking, all the mess he’s getting people to do. too bad the family of Shakir could not have had him committed or maybe they did and he was just that depressed. so sad that people are being decieved to kill themselves thinking they will have peace when in reality, they will go straight to the tormenters. gvnbhnbvgnvnghthat Balfour dude was just plain evil, especially to shoot that crying child. he is too evil to ever be released back into society. and as far as the dragging, the suspects sister is a nut, how could you drag anyone you loved. I bet they did not drag anyone else that they loved. they dragged him because deep down, they had racist feelings toward blacks because of the way they chose to kill him. they probably found out or suspected that one of their women liked him or something the same as their forefathers did.
I still cry too #27. My thoughts and prayers are with the Hudson family and the Stewart family.
This is still hard to comprehend that this family has to deal with burying 3 loved ones at one time. This is unimaginable period for anyone. My prayers are with the entire family. I hope they catch the monster who did this. I just hope to see jennifer in more movies and hope to hear from her in more albums. She is very talented and a beautiful young women.
Thanks J. Dakar and CL for keeping us informed. People better wake up time is winding up. Time to be serious!
As far as Shakir goes, there has been a rising number of African American men killing themselves after finding out they have H.I.V. There was a guy here in Philly who was extremely popular and rich and he also killed himself. If he is one of those brothers (which wouldn’t suprise me) than he should have seeked counseling. It’s extremely sad.
#3 dont judge
beyonceaintallthat clearly has issues…hence the name
i feel that now a days people should feel mostly sad and threaten for THEIR families and not someone else but i guess i feel this way cause everytime turn to the news or in newspaper it saids and innocent person was shot and killed for no reason and not saying you should feel sad for them but to cry for jennifers family and not to know her or them personally and everyone else families is a little stuiped to do when you can waste your time to live up your life and feeling bad for someone else
just from reading several comments ^
just from reading comments
Get the hammaz… The white people wanna bang!!!!! … A person that commits suicide isn’t a good father. He’s a selfish father…… May they all R.I.P.
Wish someone could’ve seen it coming, ya heard me
whoever comdemns someone to hell is just outright stupid (#3).
and being assumptive on his suicide just maks an ass out of yourself (#67).
#57: do you know anything about bipolar disorder?! you really could never understand what a person goes through mentally. it’s the hardest thing to go through. medications may or may not help. you’re not fully aware of how your mood will effect your day. trust & believe…you should be thankful.
i think there’s a problem with black people and mental illness in this country. people tend to overlook the problems because most of us readily identify it as a “white” people problem. it’s very sad.
i am responding to Dezmar tyson (#3) I was once like you and thought that committing suicide was an act of selfishness, but in actuality you really can not judge a person for the single fact that you do not know what that person is going through. Depression, although it may not be on the same level as world hunger or any major chronic diseases, it is still a serious issue. I am not trying to cause any conflict or anything.