Fans weep, hug, sing at casket of slain rapper XXXTentacion
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Thousands of fans of the late rapper XXXTentacion chanted his lyrics and made “X” signs at a Florida stadium Wednesday as people lined up for hours to file past a casket where he was laid out in a denim jacket and with two braids splayed over the side.
Security guards flanked both sides of the casket, surrounded by black roses and silver leaves, and a row of spotlights lit the stage at the 20,000-seat BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida.
Loudspeakers at the viewing blasted songs by the rapper, who was gunned down last week at age 20 while departing a motorcycle shop in his luxury electric sports car in what police said was an apparent robbery. Police have arrested one suspect and on Wednesday identified another man as person of interest.
Family members and friends in a roped-off area wore black T-shirts that said “Bad” on front and “No more pain” on the back. The somber crowd grew rowdy as popular songs came on and many started jumping and raising their hands in the air as they shouted lyrics.
On the way into the arena as well as on stage near the casket, many fans wept, held hands and hugged each other. A fan who identified himself as Choice Bison said on his way in that XXXTentacion stood for hope and energy.
“What was his gift? Fearlessness. Fearlessness,” Bison said. “As people, we are always wondering what people are thinking about us. And he just had a beautiful ability to not care what anybody was saying, to not care what anybody was thinking and give us his authentic self.”
XXXTentacion, who sported dreadlocks and facial tattoos and who pronounced his name “Ex ex ex ten-ta-see-YAWN,” was a platinum-selling rising star who tackled issues including prejudice and depression in his songs. He also drew criticism over bad behavior and multiple arrests, including charges that he severely beat and abused his girlfriend.