Beyoncé Honors O’Shae Sibley, A New York Dancer Stabbed For Voguing To Her Music
Beyoncé honored slain fan O’Shae Sibley over the weekend as NYPD investigates his stabbing death for voguing as a possible hate crime.
The 41-year-old songstress penned, “REST IN POWER O’SHAE SIBLEY” on her official website.
Rest In Power, O’Shea Sibley
– Beyoncé pic.twitter.com/p8Hh0VMmPq
— 👑 Mr. Weeks 👑 (@WonderKing82) August 1, 2023
The professional dancer had multiple stab wounds to the torso. First responders pronounced him dead before arriving at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn.
O’Shae 🧡🕊️ pic.twitter.com/MS1vIueNIl
— wen (@wenwinsituation) August 6, 2023
New York City Police Department told People, “The incident is being investigated as a possible biased incident.”
The 17-year-old suspected of fatally stabbing O’Shea Sibley has been charged with murder as a hate crime, CNN reports.
Sibley, a 28-year-old Black gay dancer, was stabbed to death at a Brooklyn gas station last weekend after voguing to a Beyoncé song.pic.twitter.com/6Q1ZIXdnsF
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) August 5, 2023
CNN reports NYPD arrested a 17-year-old suspect in the murder.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, GLAAD, And More Remember O’Shea Sibley
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Foundation’s Ailey Extension shared a tribute to Sibley, who was a former student.
“The Ailey organization mourns the tragic death of O’Shae Sibley, following an attack outside of a Brooklyn gas station on Saturday night. O’Shae was a cherished and devoted Ailey Extension student. He had incredible energy in the studio and was loved by instructors and fellow classmates,” the statement said on Monday.
Openly gay New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Signal tweeted, “Heartbroken and enraged to learn about O’Shae Sibley’s death this weekend in New York. Despite homophobes’ best efforts, gay joy is not a crime. Hate-fueled attacks are.”
Heartbroken and enraged to learn about O’Shae Sibley’s death this weekend in New York. Despite homophobes’ best efforts, gay joy is not crime. Hate-fueled attacks are.https://t.co/XiPuzEgn6T
— Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal (@bradhoylman) July 31, 2023
GLAAD released a statement on Tuesday acknowledging O’Shae’s untimely death and addressing other issues looming over the LGBTQ community. The organization declared the dancer’s death a “disturbing rise in violence and harassment” and added that “this cannot continue.”
“No one should have to fear for their safety just for being themselves,” GLAAD wrote. “Politicians spewing lies and proposing policies filled with disinformation, and media repeating their false and dangerous rhetoric unchallenged, are creating an incredibly hostile environment that endangers all LGBTQ people and all queer people of color.”
Beyoncé’s Long History Of Supporting The LGBTQ Community
Beyoncé, who is beloved by the LGBTQ community, dedicated her latest album Renaissance to her Uncle Jonny. She says he “[exposed] me to a lot of the music and culture that serve as inspiration for this album.”