By Marisa Laudadio
10:27am PST, Dec 7, 2021
Nothing is more heartbreaking than losing a child. Sadly, several celebrities have had to say goodbye to their babies this year. Keep reading to see which stars are grieving the loss of their kids in 2021, starting with this TV and music star… On the Dec. 7 episode of his eponymous talk show, host Nick Cannon announced that his youngest child, 5-month-old Zen Scott Cannon, was dead from brain cancer. Nick explained how he and Zen's mom, model Alyssa Scott — who gave birth in June — learned two months later that Zen had a malignant tumor. Zen underwent surgery to drain fluid from his brain and doctors put in a shunt, but things took a devastating turn a few months later. "At Thanksgiving, the tumor began to grow a lot faster, so we knew that time was [coming]," an emotional Nick told his studio audience, as shared in a video he posted on social media. The star said he was able to spend "quality time" with Zen and Alyssa over the first weekend in December, including at a Southern California beach on Dec. 5, the day Nick was able to "[hold] my son for the last time" before he passed away, Nick shared.
Keep reading for more stars who are mourning children who died in 2021…
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"Trap Queen" rapper Fetty Wap is mourning the death of 4-year-old Lauren Maxwell, his daughter with Lisa Pembroke, aka performer Turquoise Miami. Lauren passed away in Riverdale, Georgia, on June 24. According to TMZ, her death certificate indicates she died from a cardiac arrhythmia — an irregular heartbeat — caused by complications from congenital cardiac anomalies. A devastated Lisa — who on Aug. 5 took to Instagram to slam TMZ for posting the news, saying "that is not the full cause of her death" and noting that autopsy results were pending — announced Lauren's passing on social media on Aug. 1, calling her daughter "my amazing, beautiful, funny, vibrant, loving, talented, smart and hardheaded princess mermaid Aquarius." Two days later, Fetty Wap (real name: Willie Maxwell II) took to Instagram where he called his little girl his "mini me" and "my twin," captioning a photo of Lauren, "I love you to the moon and back forever and ever bestfriend…" The grieving dad told fans on Instagram Live, "She's good. My baby's happy now." The music star has five surviving children from previous relationships.
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On Nov. 12, rocker Chris Daughtry's stepdaughter, Hannah, was found dead in her Nashville home by the Nashville Police Department, People magazine reported. The Grammy-nominated Daughtry frontman, who came to fame on season 5 of "American Idol" and was on tour when the tragic news emerged, immediately returned home to be with his family. (He's seen here with Hannah in 2010.) On Nov. 13, TMZ reported that detectives told the Daughtry family Hannah's death was a homicide, citing sources. But on Nov. 15, the 8th District Tennessee D.A. told TMZ, "This is a death investigation and any attempt to classify it as a homicide investigation at this time is premature and irresponsible." Chris, meanwhile, took to Instagram to mourn, writing, "I am still processing the last 24 hours. I am absolutely devastated and heartbroken," he wrote alongside a photo of Hannah. "I just recently lost my mother to cancer but I was blessed with the chance to say goodbye and I was processing it privately. We never got to say goodbye to our precious Hannah and it's another huge hit to our family. Thank you all for your kind words and condolences. They are truly felt and appreciated. I am now taking time be present with my family as we attempt to heal from this devastating loss," he continued, adding, "Hannah, I love you. I miss you. I wish I could hold you. This hurts so deeply." Deanna — Chris's wife of 21 years — also took to social media to grieve, writing alongside a slideshow of photos of her daughter, "My first born. I love you endlessly Hannah. Our family would like to thank you all for the outpouring of love as we grieve the loss of our daughter Hannah. We are awaiting the autopsy results to determine how Hannah sustained the injuries that caused her death. Our hearts are broken." Hannah and brother Griffin, 23, are Deanna's children from a previous marriage; Chris and Deanna are also parents to 10-year-old twins Adalynn and Noah.
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In April, retired NBA star Scottie Pippen announced that his oldest child, Antron, had passed away at 33. "I'm heartbroken to share that yesterday, I said goodbye to my firstborn son Antron. The two of us shared a love for basketball and we had countless conversations about the game. Antron suffered from chronic asthma and if he hadn't had it, I truly believe he would've made it to the NBA," Scottie wrote on Instagram along a slideshow of photos of his son. "He never let that get him down, though — Antron stayed positive and worked hard, and I am so proud of the man that he became. Please keep his mom, [my first wife] Karen [McCollum], and all of his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers. A kind heart and beautiful soul gone way too soon. I love you, son, rest easy until we meet again." Antron, whose cause of death has not been disclosed, was the oldest of the basketball star's eight children. Scottie also lost another child, Tyler — a twin to Taylor — nine days after former girlfriend Sonya Roby gave birth in 1994.
On Oct. 29, Turner Sports broadcaster Ernie Johnson took to Instagram to share that he and wife Cheryl's son Michael Johnson — one of four children they adopted — had died at 33. "We are grieving and at the same time so grateful for having been witnesses to a miraculous 33 years with Michael," the "Inside the NBA" host wrote on Twitter. Ernie also shared a photo of Michael, who used a ventilator due to respiratory issues, on Instagram, captioning it, "This guy we adopted from Romania in 1991 and [who was] diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy lived a miraculous life of 33 years. We lost Michael Johnson today and we're crushed. But we also know we'll see him again…and that sustains us."
OWN TV host Dr. Laura Berman lost 16-year-old son Samuel Chapman in February. "My beautiful boy is gone. 16 years old. Sheltering at home. A drug dealer connected with him on Snapchat and gave him fentanyl laced Xanax or Percocet (toxicology will tell) and he overdosed in his room," the relationship and intimacy therapist, who hosts "In the Bedroom with Dr. Laura Berman" and the "Language of Love" podcast, wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of herself hugging her boy. "They do this because it hooks people even more and is good for business but It causes overdose and the kids don't know what they are taking. My heart is completely shattered and I am not sure how to keep breathing. I post this now only so that not one more kid dies. We watched him so closely. Straight A student. Getting ready for college. Experimentation gone bad. He got the drugs delivered to the house. Please watch your kids and WATCH SNAPCHAT especially. That's how they get them." Laura has been a fierce activist for raising awareness of the opioid crisis following Samuel's death.
"Black Dynamite" and "Spawn" actor Michael Jai White revealed in an interview with VladTV that hit the internet on Aug. 1 that his oldest son died from COVID-19 complications at 38 "a few months ago," explaining (as reported by People magazine), "He was in the hospital for a while so it wasn't immediate." Michael's son — a father of six — had also been dealing with substance abuse issues that further "compromised" his health amid his battle with the coronavirus. "Ultimately, when he got sick and went to the hospital, COVID was waiting for him… That was the knockout blow," the "For Better of Worse" and "Arrow" actor said, adding that his son, whose name he didn't share, had not been vaccinated.
In April, Ashley Cain, who starred on MTV's "The Challenge," and girlfriend Safiyya Vorajee lost 8-month-old daughter Azaylia following a 6-month battle with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia. "I will always hold you in my heart until I can hold you again in heaven," Ashley captioned a heartbreaking post sharing the sad news on Instagram. Safiyya called Azaylia "my Angel my heartbeat my soul" in another post. "RIP my precious baby, you will always be with me like a handprint on my heart."
CNN correspondent Rene Marsh in April announced that her son, Blake Payne, had died from brain cancer. He was just 2 years old. "In your 25 months on earth you taught me how much strength I had stored up in reserve that I didn't know I had. You taught me endurance. You taught me a depth of love I have never experienced. You inspired me to keep going when I wanted to give up. You helped me prioritize what is truly important in this life," Rene wrote on Instagram alongside a slideshow of photos of her toddler, who was diagnosed in 2019. "I am forever changed because of you, my son. I feel blessed and honored to have been your mom. I wish we had more time together but I'm grateful for the time we had." She went on to explain, "I didn't just lose you Blakey, I lost all the dreams and hopes that a mom has for a son. I lost my motherhood and I'm mourning it all." Rene alsp said she is "dedicated to fighting pediatric cancer for the rest of my life. I will do it not just to spare other parents from this unbearable pain but I will do it to forever honor you, Blake. Your life was not in vain my sweet angel."
