Getty Rapper DMX died on April 9, 2021.
Rapper DMX has died at the age of 50, according to The New York Times, TMZ and other outlets. He died at a hospital in White Plains, New York, on Friday, April 9, 2021, where he was on life support after suffering cardiac arrest, his family announced.
That news came the day after a false report circulated on Twitter that the iconic rapper, whose real name was Earl Simmons, had died on Thursday, April 8.
Fox5NY reporter Lisa Evers clarified on April 8 that DMX was still alive at that time, but his condition was “deteriorating rapidly,” and he died on Friday, April 9, according to The Times. The rapper was subjected to several false death reports previously, confusing fans.
“RIP DMX” trended fast on Twitter as thousands of people assumed that DMX was dead on April 8. However, the unverified report came from a site called The Saint, which offered no proof for the claim and later retracted it. Fans poured out their heartbreak in the tweets. A few hours later, though, the rapper was, indeed, dead. In fact, his family confirmed his death. “DMX Dead at 50,” TMZ reported, breaking the news.
Here’s what you need to know:
DMX’s Family Confirmed His Death in a Statement That Called Him a ‘Warrior Who Fought Till the End’
GettyDMX performing in 2015.
The New York Times, TMZ and other outlets shared a statement from DMX’s family announcing the star’s death.
“Earl was a warrior who fought till the very end,” the Simmons family said. “He loved his family with all of his heart and we cherish the times we spent with him. Earl’s music inspired countless fans across the world and his iconic legacy will live on forever. We appreciate all of the love and support during this incredibly difficult time.”
He died after being on life support for a “catastrophic cardiac arrest,” the Times reported.
According to TMZ, DMX “had virtually no brain function after he was deprived of oxygen for nearly 30 minutes following his OD. Brain function never returned, and by Thursday his organs began failing while he remained on life support in a New York hospital.”
TMZ quoted a rep for DMX as confirming, “We are deeply saddened to announce today that our loved one, DMX, birth name of Earl Simmons, passed away at 50 years old at White Plains Hospital with his family by his side after being placed on life support for the past few days. Earl was a warrior who fought till the very end.”
According to TMZ, the family’s statement also said, “Earl’s music inspired countless fans across the world and his iconic legacy will live on forever. We appreciate all of the love and support during this incredibly difficult time. Please respect our privacy as we grieve the loss of our brother, father, uncle and the man the world knew as DMX. We will share information about his memorial service once details are finalized.”
The Earlier False Reports Appear to Have Derived From the Wording of a Comedian’s Instagram Post
Luenell’s first post, and now her second
Why did some people falsely think DMX died on Thursday, April 8, instead of April 9? It appears to stem from a comedian’s Instagram post.
Several prominent journalists immediately expressed doubt on April 8 that DMX was dead, pointing out that there was no official evidence at that time that he had died.
Philip Lewis, a senior editor with the Huffington Post, attempted to calm the flames on Twitter quickly, writing early on that there was no confirmation that DMX had died. “Yikes. So Luenell posted and deleted a IG story that DMX died and it appears outlets rolled with it,” he wrote. Luenell is a comedian. Lewis added, “I’ve seen a tweet from an account with no source, details. And an IG post from Luenell (which isn’t enough by itself).”
Lewis concluded: “He’s in bad shape, but it not clear to me that he’s passed yet.”
Well-known journalist Yashar Ali also expressed great skepticism about the death claim, writing on Twitter, “I have not seen any reliable news organizations report that DMX has passed away. I know he’s in bad shape but there has been no official confirmation of his passing.”
It appears that some of the confusion stemmed from a post in comedian Luenell’s Instagram story. Luenell originally wrote on her Instagram story, “It is over. My friend is gone. Soar w/ the (dove). Join the best that ever did it. RIP…DMX.”
@Phil_Lewis_ Luenell *updated*
She then updated her story to say, “When your spirit leaves and your organs fail you, the body becomes just a shell. One becomes wrapped in the Lord’s arms. That’s what ‘I’ call gone. I’m sorry to all. #DMX.” That post is still available in her Instagram story.
The day before, Fox Soul host Claudia Jordan was criticized on Twitter after tweeting “Rest in Paradise DMX” before deleting the post, Newsweek reported. DMX was in grave condition with his family nearby at the time but was not dead. However, according to Newsweek he had “little to no brain activity.”
For Days, the Rapper Was in Grave Condition After a Heart Attack
GettyDMX.
It’s clear that DMX was in very bad health for days so his death was not unexpected.
According to NBC New York, the rapper was “hospitalized in grave condition” following a heart attack.
NBC New York quoted DMX’s attorney Murray Richman as saying the heart attack occurred at DMX’s home at 11 p.m. on Friday, April 2, 2021. He was rushed to a hospital in White Plains, New York.
“I received a call this morning that Earl Simmons was in the hospital, at the White Plains Hospital, and that he had a heart attack, and I’m not sure how it was induced and that he’s on life support,” Richman said.
“I’ve spoken to the family and the family and I are quite close with each other. I am concerned about his well-being and mindful of his significance. I have known Earl for over 25 years and I believe that his music is quite poignant, very important. He’s truly a poet of our time,” Richman said to ABC7.
DMX Overdosed on Drugs, Reports Say
GettyDMX performs at the 2015 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival.
DMX’s lawyer told NBC that he didn’t know what caused DMX’s heart attack.
However, TMZ reported that it was caused by a drug overdose. According to TMZ, the overdose “triggered” the heart attack.
TMZ received conflicting reports at first about DMX’s condition, with one source saying he had “some brain activity” and another describing the rapper as being in a “vegetative state.”
According to TMZ, DMX has had well-known issues with drugs. He ended up in rehab several times, the latest in 2019, according to the entertainment site.
The New York Times reported that DMX was in a vegetative state and in a coma before he died.
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