Lady Gaga mourns loss of friend

Aug 3, 2018 | 8:00 AM

Lady Gaga is speaking out following the death of her friend Rick Genest to mourn his loss and urge anyone suffering to get help.

The heavily tattooed Canadian model and artist reportedly died of suicide in his apartment in the Plateau-Mont-Royal neighborhood in Montreal, Canada on Wednesday. He rose to fame as the star of Gaga’s “Born This Way” video and was known as “Zombie Boy.”

“The suicide of friend Rick Genest, Zombie Boy is beyond devastating. We have to work harder to change the culture, bring Mental Health to the forefront and erase the stigma that we can’t talk about it. If you are suffering, call a friend or family today. We must save each other,” Gaga tweeted.

She added, “Science tells us that it takes 21 days to form a habit, if you are suffering from Mental Health issue I beckon for today to be your first day or a continuation of the work you’ve been doing. Reach out if you’re in pain, and if you know someone who is, reach out to them too.”

“Kindness and mental health aren’t one time practices. They aren’t just to do list items. This fall, in partnership with @btwfoundation, I’ll explore the power of habits to build cultures of kindness and wellness. Sign up to learn more,” she concluded with a link to BornThisWay.Foundation.

Rick was discovered by stylist Nicola Formichetti in 2010, and was also featured in a Thierry Mugler campaign that led to the Gaga music video cameo. He posed in campaigns for magazines like GQ and Vogue Hommes, and walked in runway shows across the world.

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