Entertainment journalist and ‘This Is Us’ writer JasFly dead at 39

Industry friends and colleagues are shocked by the veteran writer's sudden death.

Jun 10, 2020

Hip-hop journalist and TV writer/producer Jas Waters, also known as Jas Fly, has died at 39, a number of her closest friends and colleagues confirmed on Wednesday.

JasFly made a name for herself as an entertainment journalist, eventually landing her own column at VIBE magazine. In 2013, she was featured on the short-lived reality show Gossip Game alongside Angela Yee and Kim Osorio among others. She went on to make it as a TV writer for shows like NBC’s This Is Us and Showtime’s Kidding.

Her friend, Sade Sellers, confirmed the tragic news on social media on Wednesday. According to People, Waters’ cause of death was listed as hanging and her death was ruled a suicide.

https://twitter.com/IAMSadeSellers/status/1270785876239368192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1270785876239368192&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lovebscott.com%2Fjournalist-tv-writer-jas-waters-dead-39

The entire #ThisIsUs family was devastated to learn of Jas Waters passing. In our time together, Jas left her mark on us and ALL over the show. She was a brilliant storyteller and a force of nature. We send our deepest sympathies to her loved ones. She was one of us. RIP @JasFly. pic.twitter.com/cmrh2OO8of

— ThisIsUsWriters (@ThisIsUsWriters) June 10, 2020

“I’m at a loss for words. @JasFly has been on my heart and spirit for some time now. I would always tell her when I saw her, how much I admired her work,” posted Necole Kane, CEO & founder of XONecole. “Her storytelling. Her authenticity. Her gift to the world. Sometimes I wish I could have said more. I’m saddened.”

“If you are in the industry, you know @JasFly … a motivating energy and dope woman in hip-hop. Today hurts,” tweeted fellow journalist Sowmya Krishnamurthy.

This Is Us star Susan Kelechi Watson also reacted to the shocking news, tweeting “Incredibly shocked and saddened to have just receive this news. Blessed Light, fly with the angels.”

Writer Adelle Platon wrote that she was “at a loss” over JasFly’s the sudden death. “Knew her since VIBE & it was always love whenever we saw each other in LA,” she wrote. “She once had her assistant deliver me a special brownie at work just ’cause … f**k, man. she was a beautiful soul & a hustler with one of the sharpest pens. rest in power, jas.”

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