When it comes to director John Singleton, there is some good news and some very bad news.
And, tragically, the good news is simply relative to what has been reported.
But, still, we’ll start there…
John Singleton is alive, contrary to what you may have read this morning on social media.
(The hashtag #RIPJohnSingleton was actually trending on Twitter Monday morning ,as thousands of messages poured in, first with condolences and then with confusion.)
The veteran director has NOT passed away from the stroke he suffered 12 days ago, although his prognosis remains dire.
According to Shannon Barr, a publicist for the executive, Singleton is on "life support" and anything you may have heard otherwise "is inaccurate."
We hate to say it, but sounds like that qualification may only be temporary.
UPDATE: The family has taken Singleton off life support. He will die in the next few hours.
He has now passed away.https://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2019/04/john-singleton-dies-beloved-director-was-51/
TMZ writes that Singleton is in a a medically-induced coma and is "non-responsive and not getting better" while being a patient at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
The director’s family has been in the process of establishing a conservatorship for him, with his mother asking a judge to appoint her temporary conservator because he is "unable to properly provide for his personal needs for physical health, food, clothing, or shelter."
Specifically, she wants to finalize a lucrative settlement agreement of some kind that her sign was close to completing prior to this medical crisis.
Unfortunately, this has turned into a sad and scandalous ordeal because one of Singleton’s daughters, Cleopatra, is attempting to block the conservatorship, alleging that John’s mother wants fleece her son’s estate and freeze out his four kids.
It’s an ugly situation, but it’s not what we want to focus on right now.
Singleton was nominated for two Academy Awards for 1991’s Boyz n the Hood, his breakout film, becoming the youngest Best Director nominee and first black person nominated for the same award in the process.
His other movies have included such hits as Poetic Justice, which starred Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur; Shaft; Baby Boy; 2 Fast 2 Furious; and Four Brothers.
Like many others, the director had more recently turned his attention to the small screen.
His latest projects include creating and executive producing the FX Networks TV series Snowfall as well as directing the fifth episode of the network’s The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story.
Singleton checked himself into Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after experiencing problems with his legs after returning from Costa Rica.
He suffered a stroke shortly afterward in his hospital room.
Via a statement, this is what his family told the public about the incident back on April 17:
Our beloved son/father, John Singleton, suffered a stroke while at the hospital. We ask that privacy be given to him and our family at this time and appreciate all of the prayers that have been pouring in from his fans, friends and colleagues.
Taraji P. Henson said on social media that she and Tyrese Gibson visited Singleton in the hospital, writing in an Instagram post on Saturday:
"You heard my voice and jumped up. I HAVE HOPE AND FAITH BECAUSE I KNOW THAT #GODIS."
Neil deGrasse Tyson, Snoop Dogg, Guillermo del Toro and Ava DuVernay have all also sent well wishes, with the latter writing online:
"His films helped form me. His kindness lifted me up. I remember him coming to the premiere of my indie years ago. Showing love/support for a fellow black director from LA. He is a lovely man. Pray with me."