Rick Genest, AKA Zombie Boy’s death was an accident, not a suicide – his family and management insist.
Earlier this week the model Zombie Boy, who famously appeared in Lady Gaga’s 2011 hit, ‘Born This Way’ died at the age of 32. It was first reported that his death was by suicide, but his family has said that his death was actually accidental.
He was found dead at his home in Montreal after falling from a balcony at the back of his resident.
Genest’s manager Karim Leduc told PEOPLE, “For us, the family and close entourage, we feel there’s too many inconsistencies around his death to rule it as a suicide, and for people to jump to conclusions that rapidly was disappointing,
“The balcony from which he fell on the third floor was a very dangerous balcony,” Leduc added. “Just three weeks ago, I visited that balcony with him and was on it with him smoking a cigarette, as well. It’s a balcony that has very small rails/guards — an emergency/fire escape balcony – and he was leaning his back towards it like sitting on the ledge of the rail, and he fell from his backside onto the floor.”
There has been speculation that he jumped rather than fell but Leduc said that Genest had left no note and that he “actually made plans for a couple things that week.”
After the news of his death, Lady Gaga wrote a poignant tribute to Genest on Thursday and stated that he had taken his own life, “The suicide of friend Rick Genest, Zombie Boy is beyond devastating,” she tweeted. “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’re suffering, call a friend or family today,” she added. “We must save each other.”
