Comedian Michael Blackson sparked outrage when he asked his fans to Cash app him money to help pay fellow comedian AJ Johnson‘s funeral expenses.
Johnson, 55, apparently suffered a heart attack in a store and died earlier this month.
His body lay in a morgue for weeks until the coroner used his dental records to identify him and contacted his family.
In a post on social media, Blackson said he received a call from Johnson’s former management and his wife.
He said Johnson’s wife — who was separated from him for years — was “in tears”.
“Apparently no one has heard from AJ for about a couple of weeks,” Blackson wrote.
“Get to find out he had a heart attack in some store on Sept. 6th and was taken to the hospital where he died a day later [shaking my head]. He had no identification on him and I’m shocked no one from the [Los Angeles] hospital recognized him to tell the world.”
Blackson went on to say Johnson “left this world with absolutely nothing”.
It’s unclear how Blackson knew Johnson’s financial status at the time of his death. He readily admitted that neither Johnson’s former manager or wife had heard from him in years.
Then Blackson provided his Cash app ID, a mobile payment app, and asked his followers to send him money. He wrote: “at the end of the day I’ll match it and send to his family to bury him. Thanks.”
However, his followers accused Blackson of pulling a “scam” and they wondered why celebs who display material wealth on social media while asking fans to send them money.
One Rhymeswithsnitch commenter wrote:
“Do these celebrities realize that most black folks are BROKE due to the unemployment of the pandemic? How about they budget THEIR money, and go a week without a $400k watch and contribute their own damn money! Folks got their own bills and loved ones to care for and bury. Y’all niggas (in Hollywood) love bragging on social media about what y’all got, so put your money where your mouth is and give that good brother a NICE send-off!”
Another reader wrote:
“MBlackstone was just on Cribs stunting. Just pay for the funeral already.”
And a third person wrote:
“Everyday people already contribute by supporting these celebrities so it’s only fair these celebrities contribute by supporting their own.”
