Amid the backlash over his anti-semitic comments, Nick Cannon was candid with followers while mourning the loss of his friend, rapper Ryan Bowers, who was signed to his record label.
"Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse…2020 is definitely the most f**ked up year I’ve ever witnessed! After waking up & barely rising from my own dark contemplation of continuing my physical existence on this planet, this powerful warrior actually had the balls to do it," the entertainer, 39, wrote in a post to his 5 million Instagram followers. TMZ reported that Bowers died on Saturday (July 18). He was 24.
Cannon went on to call Bowers “the strongest dude [he’s] ever met” after being shot in his home in 2019 by a San Diego cop. While the budding rapper was in a coma for months, Cannon stuck by his side and watched as he learned how to walk again. "I stood by his bedside and promised him that if he made it out & fought the good fight that I would make his dream come true and put his album out and share his story with the world. He fought and fought, he woke up, they stitched him up, he learned to walk and talk again and within months we were back in the studio recording," he explained.
Elsewhere, The Masked Singer host praised Bower’s musical pursuits, calling the music his "safe haven," but admitted to ultimate disappointment. "Paying for lawyers, putting money in his pocket, even putting the music together all meant nothing because I feel like I failed my little brother," he said.
"The Cops will get away with shooting another kid, everyone will just look at this as yet another loving farewell post, but to me @ryanbowersob was so much more than that. Once again my brother you have put this world in perspective for me," he continued. "You would do that quite often because I never understood how someone who was experiencing sooo much pain could still laugh and smile through it all. This photo was the last time we seen each other in person. It was your first show back! Soldout crowd in our hometown San Diego and you rocked it!! You were so happy!! Proved to so many that you could do it and that you were Super Human! The greatest comeback I ever saw!! We almost made it little bro! But I guess even flying Super Heros have to land eventually. But I am certain that your energy will never die and your Spirit is eternal, so I ask you still to forgive me for letting you down Warrior. I can’t help but think if I wasnt so engulfed in my own bullshit I could’ve been there for you when you finally took your life after several attempts… **k this place!! #CantWin #ForLosing"
If you or someone you know is considering suicide or is in emotional distress, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
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