Notable Black Celebrities Who Died In 2025

2025 marked a year of remembrance across the worlds of art, music, media, and sports, as we said goodbye to several influential Black icons. These individuals were trailblazers and, in many cases, history-makers whose creativity, leadership, and cultural impact helped shape generations. While their passing is deeply felt, their legacies continue to inspire. 

Below is a tribute to the beloved Black celebrities who died in 2025, along with the heartfelt public responses that celebrated their lives and tremendous impact. 

Ananda Lewis (1976–2025)

Ananda Lewis, the charismatic MTV VJ and host who became a familiar face on BET’s Teen Summit, MTV Live, and TRL, died on June 11 at age 52, following a long battle with breast cancer. She had been open about her fight with stage 4 breast cancer and passed away at home in hospice care, surrounded by family.

Lewis first discovered a lump in her right breast during a self-exam in 2018. A year later, she was officially diagnosed with HER2-negative Stage 3 breast cancer, as she revealed in a January interview with Essence. Rather than undergo a double mastectomy—like doctors recommended—or pursue conventional cancer treatments like chemotherapy or radiation, Lewis chose an alternative healing path, a decision influenced in part by her mother’s challenging experience with traditional cancer care.

“It’s not that I don’t trust the medical community. I do, with certain things, but I see a flaw in how they think about treating cancer,” she explained. “So I knew that I would address it in a different way. I wanted to start by figuring out why my body was creating cancer and how to change the terrain.”

Lewis used her platform to speak candidly about her health struggles, resonating with many fans who grew up watching her on television and those battling their own health conditions. 

In her interview, Lewis described the comprehensive alternative regimen she followed: monthly ultrasounds conducted by her breast surgeon to monitor tumor growth, high-dose vitamin C infusions, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, qigong—an ancient Chinese practice that combines physical postures and breathing techniques—along with energy healing practices, prayer, fasting, and dietary changes.

She managed all of this while navigating the emotional strain of ending a decade-long relationship with her son’s father. By early 2020, her scans showed the tumor was still growing, but at a slow pace. But limited care during the height of the pandemic, along with soaring health care costs, impacted her progress. By 2023, her cancer had progressed to Stage 4.  

Voletta Wallace (1946–2025)

Voletta Wallace, the Jamaican-born mother of rapper The Notorious B.I.G., died on Feb. 21 at the age of 78. According to her family, Wallace’s death was attributed to natural causes when she passed away in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, earlier this year. 

Wallace was widely respected for preserving her son’s legacy in hip-hop and advocating for his influence in music history. As the overseer of his estate, she ensured that his wealth was passed down to his family, including his daughter, T’yanna Wallace, TMZ noted.

Voletta has also been her son’s biggest supporter, tirelessly championing his memory and contributions to the music world. In September 2024, she took to Instagram to express her gratitude to fans for reaching a record number of streams for Biggie’s songs on Apple Music.

“2.5 Billions on @applemusic. Thank you!!!” she penned.

Voletta’s dedication also extended beyond music. She was the head of The Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation, a charity she established to enhance the lives of inner-city youth through education and the arts. In August 2024, Voletta and the foundation’s team visited A Lovely Trip to the Sound Theater in Pennsylvania, where they posed in front of a mural honoring Biggie. This visit marked another meaningful moment in her ongoing effort to keep her son’s spirit alive.

Fans and artists alike mourned her as a guardian of one of rap’s most iconic figures during her funeral. 

 D’Angelo (1974–2025)

Legendary neo-soul artist D’Angelo (Michael Eugene Archer) died on Oct. 14, at 51, after a battle with cancer, widely reported as pancreatic cancer. The music icon gave fans timeless hits like “Untitled (How Does It Feel)”, “Lady”, and “Brown Sugar,” fusing raw, vulnerable, and spiritually rooted lyrics that moved.

He was known for merging genres like gospel, jazz, funk, and hip-hop into something uniquely his own. D’Angelo’s passing sent shockwaves through the music world. His family released a statement expressing heartbreak and gratitude for his “legacy of extraordinarily moving music,” while fans and fellow artists shared tributes across social platforms.

Angie Stone (1951–2025)

Soul and R&B singer Angie Stone died on March 1, at age 63, in a traffic accident in Alabama. Her van, returning from a concert, was struck by a truck after overturning, and she was the lone fatality. 

Stone’s voice and songwriting — including classics like “Wish I Didn’t Miss You”— influenced a generation of artists. Her passing came just 7 months before D’Angelo’s untimely death, a shock, as the two stars left behind their son Michael Archer II, who paid tribute to both celebs in October after news of his father’s death broke.  

“I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers during these very difficult times, as it has been a very rough and sad year for me,” said Archer in a statement shared with BOSSIP. “I ask that you please continue to keep me in your thoughts as it will not be easy, but one thing that both my parents taught [sic] me was to be strong, and I intend to do just that.”

Roberta Flack (1937–2025)

Roberta Flack, whose timeless ballads like “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” became cultural touchstones, died Feb. 24, at age 88. She had been living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in later years, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells.

Her memorial on March 10 was a star-studded celebration of her life, with Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder, Wyclef Jean, and Lisa Fischer among those honoring her legacy through music.

Before powering through a teary-eyed rendition of Flack’s timeless cover “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face,” Hill shed a few tears while reflecting on Flack’s legacy. 

“Her existence was a form of resistance,” Hill told the crowd during her speech. “I adore Ms. Roberta Flack… Roberta Flack is [a] legend.”

Stevie Wonder also paid a tribute to the R&B and Soul diva with a song titled “I Can See the Sun,” and shared a few kind words about the music titan, praising her for spreading her “love all over this world.” 

“The great thing about not having the ability to see with your eyes is the great opportunity of being able to even better see with your heart. And so I knew how beautiful Roberta was, not seeing her visually but being able to see and feel her heart,” the hitmaker added.

Irv Gotti (1970–2025)

Veteran producer and label executive Irv Gotti (born Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr.) died on Feb. 5 at the age of 54, following ongoing health issues in recent years related to diabetes and strokes.

A towering figure in hip-hop, Gotti left an indelible mark on the genre by helping shape the careers and sound of artists such as DMX, Ja Rule, and Ashanti through Murder Inc., the influential label he co-founded with his brother, Christopher Gotti, in 1998. Before launching the imprint, Gotti made his name as an A&R executive at Def Jam, where he was instrumental in signing several artists to the label. Working under the alias DJ Irv, he also proved his skills as a producer, crafting Jay-Z’s “Can I Live” from the rapper’s 1996 debut album, Reasonable Doubt.

After Murder Inc. was later rebranded as The Inc., Gotti expanded the label’s scope beyond hip-hop, signing pop singer Vanessa Carlton and co-producing her 2007 album, Heroes and Thieves, alongside Rick Rubin and Stephan Jenkins of Third Eye Blind.

In early 2024, Gotti spoke openly about the toll diabetes had taken on his health, saying the disease was gradually weakening his body. TMZ reported that he had suffered a minor stroke more than six months earlier due to diabetes-related complications. At the time, his representative said Gotti had made significant lifestyle changes, including adopting a healthier diet, and had since recovered, spending time at home with his family and focusing on his well-being.

“Irv has been struggling with diabetes for years, which caused him to have a minor stroke over six months ago,” Gotti’s rep said in a statement. “He has since changed his diet to eating more healthily. He’s been successful in making a full recovery. Irv is not in a rehab facility. He is at home with his family, enjoying life.”

Some of his most well-known hits include the multi-platinum track “Always On Time” by Ja Rule featuring Ashanti, and Ashanti’s “Foolish.”

George Foreman (1949–2025)

Boxing legend George Foreman — the two-time heavyweight champion and later business icon — died on March 21, at age 76. His family announced his peaceful passing surrounded by loved ones. After winning a gold medal in boxing at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, George Foreman quickly established himself as one of America’s most promising young athletes. Turning professional soon after, he stormed through the heavyweight division with legendary knockout power, compiling a perfect 37–0 record with 35 knockouts by 1972, according to NewsOne. 

That same year, Foreman delivered one of the most dominant performances in boxing history by defeating reigning champion Joe Frazier in just two rounds to claim the heavyweight title. 

Beyond the ring, Foreman reinvented himself as a wildly successful businessman, becoming the face of the George Foreman Grill, which went on to sell over 100 million units worldwide. His affable personality and savvy deals—including selling the grill’s naming rights for $137.5 million—helped build an estimated net worth of over $300 million by 2022.

Assata Shakur (1947-2025)

Activist and revolutionary Assata Olugbala Shakur died on Sept. 25 in Havana, Cuba, at the age of 78. Cuban officials and her daughter confirmed that her death was due to health complications and advanced age after decades living in exile under political asylum. Shakur, born JoAnne Deborah Byron and later known as JoAnne Deborah Chesimard after her marriage, was born in Queens in 1947. She was a prominent member of the Black Panther Party and later associated with the Black Liberation Army.

Her life became a focal point of discussions on racial justice, U.S.–Cuba relations, and revolutionary activism. On May 2, 1973, Assata Shakur and two other members of the Black Liberation Army were stopped on the New Jersey Turnpike by State Trooper Werner Foerster and another highway officer. The encounter quickly escalated into a violent confrontation, ending in a shootout that left Foerster and another individual dead.

Supporters of Shakur have consistently challenged the case, arguing that her trial was deeply flawed. They point to the absence of conclusive physical evidence, conflicting eyewitness accounts, and the broader historical context of law enforcement efforts—including those by the FBI—to undermine and sabotage civil rights and Black power movements during that era.

Regardless, Shakur escaped from prison in 1979 and eventually resurfaced in Cuba, where she was granted political asylum and lived out the remainder of her life. She spent her life after prison advocating for Black liberation and making sure her story was told. Her 1988 autobiography, Assata, became a blueprint for resistance and self-determination, widely studied by activists, scholars, and young people searching for a voice in the struggle. Her life inspired movements like Assata’s Daughters in Chicago, and her name was shouted in protests in Ferguson and across the world. Assata was a human rights activist and freedom fighter who stood in solidarity with oppressed people worldwide — and for that, her legacy will endure.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner (1970-2025)

Beloved actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner died on July 21 at 54. Warner, best known for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, drowned accidentally while swimming during a family vacation in Costa Rica after being caught in a strong current. Emergency responders attempted resuscitation, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Warner’s death was officially ruled an accidental drowning (asphyxiation by submersion).

Carl Carlton (1952-2025)

Funk and R&B singer Carl Carlton died at the age of 73 on Dec. 15, leaving behind a legacy that helped define soul and funk music across generations. The music titan was known for songs like “I Can Feel It” and his funk and soul classic “She’s a Bad Mama Jama.”

His son, Carlton Hudgens II, confirmed the news on Sunday, Dec. 14, sharing a tribute on Facebook alongside a photo of his father. “RIP Dad, Legend Carl Carlton, singer of ‘She’s a Bad Mama Jama,’” he wrote. “Long hard fight in life, and you will be missed.” 

Born Carlton Hudgens in Detroit in 1952, Carlton began his music career at a young age, recording in the 1960s under the name Little Carl Carlton. He later dropped the nickname and found early success in 1971, when his single “I Can Feel It” reached the Billboard Soul Singles chart. The song was a raw, emotional expression of love and longing, showcasing the gritty, heartfelt vocal style that would become his signature.

Carlton reached mainstream success in 1974 with his cover of “Everlasting Love,” which reached No. 6, cracking the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song, a joyful and optimistic declaration of romantic devotion, introduced Carlton to a wider pop audience while maintaining his soul roots. It remains one of the most recognizable versions of the classic love song.

Carlton had suffered a stroke six years ago, though an official cause of death has yet to be announced by the singer’s family, according to People and SoulTracks.

Let’s keep all the Black celebrities who died in 2025 in our thoughts and prayers.

Mickey Lee, a former Big Brother contestant whose vibrant personality made her a fan favorite, passed away early Christmas evening after suffering several cardiac arrests. She was 35.

News of her death came just days after supporters learned she had been hospitalized in critical condition.

“With profound sadness, the family of Mickey Lee announces her transition on Christmas in the early evening,” her family said in a statement shared to Instagram. “Mickey captured the hearts of audiences nationwide through her appearance on Big Brother, where her authenticity, strength, and spirit left a lasting impression on fans and fellow cast members alike. She will be remembered for the joy she brought into the lives of so many and for the genuine connections she formed both on and off screen.”