Erica Banks found herself being dragged online after she posted a tribute to Rich Homie Quan on social media following his death.
Rich Homie Quan, born Dequantes Devontay Lamar, died Thursday at his home in Atlanta, Georgia. He was 34. The cause of death has not yet been released.
Hours after news of his death broke, Banks paid tribute to the rapper via her Instagram.
“All you ever wanted was to find happiness again. I always saw it in your face and heard it in your voice… But you still had so much to do. The album, the tour, your BIRTHDAY!” she wrote in the since-deleted post, obtained by The Shade Room.
“I’m so glad we were able to enjoy such peaceful and memorable moments while he was here,” Banks added. “What a lovely man! Rest in Paradise.”
I understand you may be hurt but little girl delete those pics and videos out of respect for his family… you are a secret and not saying what you guys share is fake but certain things have to be kept secret because this is all Unwanted hate towards you that you don’t… https://t.co/TdJUhi4n4h
— Female Kanye (@iamakbarv) September 5, 2024
Banks also uploaded footage of her and Rich Homie Quan flirting.
One of the clips shows the rapper kissing her repeatedly on the face and neck. A second video appears to show Rich Homie Quan lying on her lap.
The now-deleted post also included a screenshot of a message she received from Rich Homie Quan.
“Confession,” the text message is said to have read. “I liked [you] for one [minute]. But who wants to be rejected. Then I saw [you] talk to [redacted] but in my mind you are still mine. [None] theirs are worthy bastards [you]”
Enstarz could not independently verify the authenticity of the footage and screenshots.
Social media reaction to Erica Banks’ post
The post immediately drew fierce criticism from Banks, with some accusing her of making Rich Homie Quan’s death her own and causing trouble.
According to TMZ, Rich Homie Quan was at home with his girlfriend Amber Williams when he died. They have two children together.
Rapper Akbar V was among those who criticized Banks for her post, writing on X, formerly Twitter: “I understand you may be hurt, but delete those pics and videos out of respect for his family, bro.”
“You’re a secret, and not saying what you share is fake but certain things have to be kept secret because of all the unwanted hate that comes your way that you don’t even know exists,” the Atlanta rapper added. “…think before you do anything, girl.”
I understand you may be hurt but little girl delete those pics and videos out of respect for his family… you are a secret and not saying what you guys share is fake but certain things have to be kept secret because this is all Unwanted hate towards you that you don’t… https://t.co/TdJUhi4n4h
— Female Kanye (@iamakbarv) September 5, 2024
“If you kept it a secret when he was alive, keep it a secret when he’s gone!” one Instagram user commented on The Shade Room’s post about Banks’ tribute.
Another user had a similar sentiment, writing: “LET’S GO — if you kept it a secret while he was alive, keep it the same after he’s dead.”
“If he hadn’t mentioned me publicly while he was alive, I would have expressed my condolences in a slightly different way after he passed away,” a third comment read.
Another fan asked: “Can’t you wait?”
“The man [hasn’t] dead for 10 years [minutes]”, wrote another critic.
“Erica, they won’t put you in the obituary, sis. Please stop, now is not the time,” said another.
But others defended Banks, saying she had every right to grieve the loss of a loved one.
“You guys are mad at everyone but that black guy,” one Instagram user commented. “If he had a woman, he shouldn’t be having sex with her like this. She has the right to express her love and experiences with him just like everyone else. He [is] is gone.”
“It’s obvious something happened to them. I don’t understand why. [people are] “going crazy about it,” another user commented.
“You guys are mad, but they had something going on,” another supporter pointed out. “Whatever it was, they had a bond and cared about each other… so what does it matter if she tells him how much he means to her? You guys are too concerned with me.”
Original article published on Enstarz.
Rich Homie Quan Card