NOTABLE SUICIDE: Lady Gaga's "Zombie Boy" BFF dies in an apparent suicide.
Rick "Zombie Boy" Genest's Manager & Family Do Not believe He Would Have Committed Suicide Questioning the Classification of His Death as a Suicide:
"In a separate statement obtained by PEOPLE from Dulcedo Management, who represented Genest, they wrote that “contrary to reports,” the classification of Genest’s death “is yet to be determined.”
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,” Genest’s manager Karim Leduc told PEOPLE. He also confirmed that the 32-year-old actor and model, who famously appeared in Lady Gaga’s “Born this Way” music video, died after falling off a balcony in Montreal.
“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.”
The manager later clarified that the balcony was located “on the backside of the building,” and was not available solely for Genest’s personal use.
Both the Canadian authorities and Lady Gaga have stated that the death was a suicide, but Leduc claimed Genest “didn’t jump from the third floor like they’re making it seem,” adding that the 32-year-old model and actor “didn’t leave any notes” and had “actually made plans for a couple things that week.”
https://people.com/music/zombie-boy-rick-genest-family-believes-death-was-accidental/
Lady Gaga doubles down and pushes the suicide narrative in a few tweets even though the family and his manager dismiss auicide as his cause of death:
Lady Gaga✔
@ladygaga
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.
5:10 PM - Aug 2, 2018