Beyoncé has paid tribute to a professional dancer and choreographer after he was fatally stabbed while dancing to her songs.
The incident occurred on Saturday night (July 29) when O’Shae Sibley stopped at a petrol station in the Brooklyn neighbourhood of Coney Island with pals to fill up their tank.
While there, Sibley started vogueing – a form of dance that originates from New York’s Black queer and trans ballroom community – to Beyoncé’s album Renaissance which was playing in the car.
According to surveillance footage obtained by the New York Post, a group of men approached them and asked them to stop vogueing around 11pm before a brawl broke out between the two groups and Sibley was fatally stabbed.
Beyoncé honors dancer who was fatally stabbed in a homophobic attack after voguing to a song of hers:
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) August 1, 2023
“REST IN POWER O’SHEA SIBLEY” pic.twitter.com/MZEdF8EAMq
He was taken to Maimonides Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Remembering the 28-year-old, Beyoncé wrote on her website on Tuesday: “REST IN POWER O’SHEA SIBLEY.”
Sibley, who was one of 11 siblings, was a member of modern dance company Ailey Extension and had performed at the Lincoln Center in New York City.
In light of his death, the organisation released a statement: “We are shocked and heartbroken that O’Shae’s life has been taken by senseless violence and extend our sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.”
His family has shared their devastation following his tragic death, and his father Jake Kelly has established a GoFundMe to raise money for his funeral.
Sibley’s family, friends, and neighbours have condemned the violence that played a part in the dancer’s untimely death.
His neighbour Beckenbaur Hamilton told CBS: “I’m so angry, really angry and that’s a life lost over a simple thing.
“They could have argued and could’ve talked and just left. They didn’t have to bring the violence in.”
While no arrests have yet been made, police are investigating the stabbing as a possible hate crime.
