Though it may have felt as if every celebrity in the world attended the 2019 Met Gala on Monday, May 6, there was one person missing from the big event — Empire star Taraji P. Henson.
The stunning actress was supposed to be attending as a guest of designer Vera Wang, but she had to skip the gala for a heartbreaking and important reason, as she told her followers on Instagram.
“Y’all I was supposed to be @verawang date tonight for the #metgala but as some of you may know I had to bury my dear sweet friend #JohnSingleton today in LA. I had to back out of the #Met because My head would NOT have been in the game,” she wrote on Monday night.
“@verawang is such a classy Lady she sent flowers and totally understood my position. I LOVE YOU FOREVER @verawang NEXT YEAR WILL BE THE CHARM FOR US!!! GOOD LUCK TONIGHT!!!”
Singleton, who is best known for directing the Academy-Award nominated Boyz n the Hood, died last month from a massive stroke. After his tragic passing, Henson shared a sweet tribute on social media for the man who was more than a friend — but also a huge part of why she has the career that she does.
“My heart is broken!!! I am at a loss for words. Can’t stop crying. I WILL MISS YOU MY DEAR FRIEND JOHN SINGLETON!!! You gave me my first big break in #BabyBoy and again in #HustleandFlow you believed in me when Hollywood did not get me at all!!!” she wrote.
“Throughout my career when I needed advice it was YOU I called and you answered EACH AND EVERY TIME with sound advice. YOU NOTICED MY FUNNY AND COMEDIC TIMING LOOOONG BEFORE HOLLYWOOD CAUGHT ON and you named me Lucy (after Lucille Ball)!!! MY GOD!!! Up next for us was the Emmett Till story……………..I am just broken!!!”
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