Beyoncé paid tribute to O'Shae Sibley, the 28-year-old dancer and choreographer who was dancing to her music when he was fatally stabbed at a gas station in Brooklyn, New York in what is being investigated as a hate crime.
Sibley was with friends at the gas station and was voguing to Beyoncé's Renaissance album.
Renaissance, which was released last year, celebrates Black and LGBTQ culture and the Harlem ballroom scene during the 1980s where the stylized form of house dance, voguing, was popularized.
Sibley, who was shirtless and wearing neon-pink swimming trunks, was allegedly approached by a group of men who hurled anti-gay slurs and demanded he stop voguing.
The confrontation escalated violently, resulting in Sibley being stabbed.
He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Following news of the tragedy in the LGBTQ+ community, Queen Bey honored Sibley on the homepage of her website.
She wrote:
"Rest in Power O'Shae Sibley."
The suspected murderer who knifed Sibley at the Mobil gas station fled in an SUV and was believed to be a 17-year-old.
Sibley's close friend Otis Pena who witnessed the killing, wrote in a Facebook post:
“They hated us cause we are gay!”
“[They were] screaming we Muslim and we don’t like gays!!!!! As we are innocently pumping gas and ya’ll decided to stab on one of us!!!”
According to the New York Post, police are searching for the suspect seen in surveillance footage.
People expressed outrage over the senseless murder.
Sibley was a dancer and choreographer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who moved to New York City three years ago. He participated in the Ailey Extension program.
The studio issued a statement reading:
“The Ailey organization mourns the tragic death of O’Shae Sibley, who was a cherished and devoted participant in our Ailey Extension program of dance classes."
“O’Shae had incredible energy in the studio and was loved by instructors and fellow students."
"He recently shone during a special demonstration of West African dance at The Ailey Spirit Gala."
"We are shocked and heartbroken that O’Shae’s life has been taken by senseless violence, and extend our sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.”
