The South African entertainment fraternity is mourning the untimely loss of veteran actor Patrick Shai, who reportedly passed away on Saturday morning after committing suicide.
Read More: Patrick Shai Commits Suicide
Read More: Patrick Shai Commits Suicide
His career spanned decades and he appeared in numerous television and theater productions. Tributes and messages of condolences have been pouring since news of his demise went viral and South African celebs have taken to social media to remember him.
Award winning amapiano vocalist Lady Du, penned a lengthy message about cyberbullying and how she has been moved by the actor's passing. She asked everyone to love one another and be kind to others.
"I have never been sooo moved and triggered by a situation kanje,
because of what I wrote last week on twitter!!!! I’m hurting for his family!!!!
I’ve been through the pain of being cyber bullied, and it can take you to a level mentally you don’t even understand. I’ve watched how toxic people have become, how we now have human beings that are God soooo judgemental!!! I’m in sooo much pain because a legend that deserved to be put up on a stage and be given his flowers for his line of work ended up leaving this earth in a painful way!!! Here’s what I ask from all of you, let’s not ruin what he worked for, let’s remember him for his work!!!!! Let’s celebrate the person he was and not how he left us. I beg you from today onwards, celebrities, friends, family, can we be more kinder to people!!!! Body shaming, cyber bullying must come to an end!!! It must end here.
To baba Patrick I pray to God to welcome you with open arms, I pray that he gives you a peaceful resting place. Rest easy baba!!!!! We as a nation heard you loud and clear!!!!!!Don’t forget to pray always," she wrote
In a post, Criselda Kanada remembered the late actor and asked the public to be kind, "People are going through a lot, please be gentle. Try harder to identify signs that are a cry for help. #RIPPatrickShai
In another post she wrote "Dear God, I’m requesting your sons & daughters to stop being rude to people they don't know. Yhu hayi Bawo it is getting worse. This social media has created unkind, hateful, hurtful people who can't take just a sec to think about the impact of their actions. #hurtpeoplehurtpeople
#RIPPatrickShai💔💔💔
In a post, Carol Bouwer said she was deeply saddened by his passing and paid tribute to him. "JUST BE KIND! Honestly it does not hurt ❤️Bophelo Ke semphekgo ❤️🙏🏽 sleep gentle soul! Deeply saddened ! I only ever met you once, when you gave us the most honest GBV account by a South African star! Honest. Kind. Transformed! Transformative! May God be kind with your soul 🤍🕊#rippatrickshai," she wrote.
The late actor's passing was confirmed by his family in a statement yesterday. Details surrounding why he committed suicide are still sketchy. In order to process the painful loss, the family has requested privacy.
“It is with great sadness to announce the passing of the veteran actor Ntate Patrick Shai. He passed away this morning. We sincerely ask you to give the family time to process this painful loss. More details will be shared in due course,” the statement read.
A few days before his demise. Patrick made news news headlines after he released a distasteful video directed at Cassper Nyovest, saying he wants to fight him before he dies.
“Before I die I want to make sure that I've beat you so that on my tombstone they can write this is the man who beat Caster or Costa or whatever your sh*t name is ... Come you son of a b*tch,” Patrick said.
He later apologized to Cassper's mother for insulting her.
May his soul rest in peace.
Image Cred: Twitter