Beyonce posted a tribute to honor a dancer after he was tragically stabbed and killed after performing a dance routine to her song Renaissance at a gas station in Brooklyn. A hate crimes investigation is underway.
Dancer O’Shae Sibley, 28, was stabbed by a stranger after being targeted for voguing; a form of dancing that originates from the Black queer and trans ballroom community in New York. The choreographer was stopped at the gas station with friends where he hopped out of his pal’s car to dance along to Queen B’s song.
Following the heartbreaking loss, Beyoncé honored Sibley with a loving tribute posted on her website for the talented young dancer with the caption: “REST IN POWER O’SHAE SIBLEY.”
Footage from the gas station captured the horrifying scene of a group of men approaching the passionate dancer telling him to stop and calling him slurs. During the confrontation, one of the men in the group stabbed Sibley. His friends tried to stop the bleeding as they called an ambulance and he was rushed to Maimonides Medical Centre. The dancer later died from the injuries in the hospital.
As of Monday, no arrests have been made in the deadly attack and the suspect has not yet been determined, The Independent reported. The man who stabbed Sibley allegedly told him that he was offended because he and his friends were dancing shirtless in their swimming trunks.
The alleged attack is being treated as a possible hate crime. Sibley’s pal, Otis Pena, who was a witness to the attack, wrote in a Facebook post: “[They were] screaming we Muslim and we don’t like gays!!!!! As we are innocently pumping gas and ya’ll decided to stab on one of us!!!”
A GoFundMe has been has since been set up by someone who says they are O’Shae’s father, to cover his funeral costs. On the GoFundMe page the grieving father wrote: “This untimely and undeserved hate crime incident that cut my son’s life down just because of his sexual preference which was just not fair to him in his prime. O’shae not only was the glue to this family, he was a great dancer and performer for the majority of his life. His spirit lit up every room he stepped in. His smile was contagious.”
In other news – Lizzo sued by former backup dancers for alleged s.e.x.ual, racial harassment
Three of Lizzo’s former dancers are suing the singer for sexual and racial harassment, as well as allegedly creating a hostile work environment.
The lawsuit, provided to PEOPLE by the plaintiffs’ law firm, was filed Tuesday morning in Los Angeles County Superior Court against the singer, whose real name is Melissa Jefferson; her production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc.; and Lizzo’s dance team captain, Shirlene Quigley. Read More
