LOS ANGELES — A contestant who competed on RuPaul’s Drag Race as Sahara Davenport died of heart failure. Antoine Ashley was 27.
Ashley died from heart failure on Monday at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Md., according to a statement from his manager, David Charpentier.
The Logo TV channel said in a statement Tuesday that Ashley was “an amazing artist and entertainer who’ll be deeply missed.”
He was a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2010. The classically trained dancer also released a dance single, Go Off, this year.
RuPaul tweeted that Antoine Ashley’s death has left him shocked and heartbroken.
Antoine’s mother, Angela Ashley Reddish, spoke on behalf of the family thanking supporters and adding, “our Angel is now dancing in heaven.” Boyfriend of six years and fellow drag entertainer Karl Westerberg said the world was awed by his talent, “But his heart is what made us all fall in love with him.”
— Associated Press
