Celebrity deaths can be tragic and painful, especially for their family and also their fans. From renowned activists to beloved actors and musicians, we’ve all heard stories of the famous last words of celebrities before they passed away. Some are simple and plain, and some heart-wrenching, bound to stick with you forever, But what were their final statements? What did they last say to the world before they left it? In this article, we’ll explore the haunting last words of some of the most influential people throughout history.
1) “More Milk/ I’m going to sleep now” – Michael Jackson
Starting with the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, who had a string of No. 1 hits including Billie Jean, Beat It, and Thriller. There are different source reports on Jackson’s last words, with some sources claiming that he said, “I’d like to have some milk. Please, please give me some more,” referring to the drug propofol that he had become addicted to. Others report that his final words were “I love you more,” after a response to a friend’s declaration of love.
2) “ I want that song” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a prominent black leader in the civil rights movement until he died in 1968. He delivered the iconic speech “I Have a Dream” and used nonviolent activism to lead the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott and the 1962 struggle against segregation. King’s final words were a request to musician Ben Branch to play “Precious Lord” at a concert that evening. “Man, I tell you, tonight I want that song. I mean, I want you to play it pretty tonight, play it pretty.” King died shortly after making this request, by an assassin’s bullet on his balcony.
3) “ Money can’t buy Life” – Bob Marley
Bob Marley, the Reggae legend, was diagnosed with skin cancer in 1977 and continued to tour and perform despite his illness. He died from cancer that had spread to his brain and the rest of his body. His final words to his son were, “Money can’t buy life.”, a testament to the failed treatment that he had sought for Gus’s condition.
4) “Fuck you” – Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur’s murder remains unsolved to this day. The rapper was shot multiple times in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas in 1996. The first police officer at the scene claims that when asked who shot him, Shakur responded with, “Fvck you.”
5) “ Hold on to me, Gigi” – Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant was a famous professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. He had joined the NBA right from high school and had played for the Lakers, his entire career. He had won 5 NBA championships during his 20 years as a basketball player. He was known to be one of the best NBA players of all time. Bryant died in an unfortunate plane crash, along with his daughter and seven other people in 2020 in Calabasas, California. His final words were to his daughter Gigi, he had said “ Hold on to me, Gigi”
6) “ I don’t wanna die, dad” – Gianna Bryant
Gianna Maria Bryant, famously known as “Gigi” was a baseball player and she attended Harbor Day School, in Newport Beach, California. Gigi was known to be the female version of her dad, Kobe Bryant as she followed in his footsteps of wanting to be a legendary female basketball player.
Gigi, unfortunately, died in a plane crash, alongside her dad in Calabasas, California. Her last words were, “ I don’t wanna die, dad “.
7) “My God, what’s happened?” – Princess Diana.
Princess Diana, the international icon known for her activism, glamour, and fashion, died in a car accident in 1997. This horrific accident shocked the United Kingdom and the royal family likewise. She was also known due to her divorce from Prince Charles III, the current King of the United Kingdom. Due to her popularity, she was constantly stalked by paparazzi which caused her death, as her driver was trying to escape them and crashed. One rescuer at the scene claimed to have heard her say, “My God, what’s happened?” before she went into
8) “ I’m going to go and see Jesus “ – Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston, who began her career singing gospel and transitioned into pop and R&B in the 80s, passed away with the words, “I’m going to go and see Jesus.” Her death happened due to an accidental drowning in a bathtub at a Hilton Hotel in LA.
9) “ I want to make sure my life made at least 5 million kids happy…” – XXX Tentacion.
Emo Rapper, Jahseh Onfroy also known as XXXTenatacion was a versatile record-breaking artist who had a cult-like fandom within his short career. He was a controversial figure while he was alive, as he was accused of domestic violence, battery, assault, and robbery among others. At the young age of 20, he was murdered and robbed of 50,000 dollars in cash along with his Louis Vuitton bag at a motorcycle dealership. Jahseh’s final words, were on his Instagram live, where he said, “ If I’m going to die or ever be a sacrifice, I want to make sure that my life made at least five million kids happy or they found some sort of answers or resolve in my life regardless of the negative around my name, regardless of the bad things people say to me. I don’t give a f**k because I know my goal in the end and I know what I want for everyone and I know what my message is. I just wanted to say, I appreciate and love all of you and I believe in you all”
10) “ Oh wow” – Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs, the creator of the Apple, iPhone, and MacBook had a profound impact on the technology world and the world at large. Born to unmarried parents, who were forbidden to be together. His biological mother, Carole Schieble, insisted that Jobs be adopted by a college-educated family to have a better life.
However, Jobs took a chance and dropped out of college, a decision that has richly paid off. At the time of his death due to a tumor, his net worth was a whopping $7 billion. His final words, which he repeated to his family were simply, “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.”
11)“Music is Life” – Pop smoke.
Bashar Barakah Jackson, professionally known as Pop Smoke, was a rapper who rose to fame from his hit song, Welcomes to the Party. He broke the boundaries of rap, by introducing a new genre-defining sound, “Brooklyn Drill” which aided his rise to prominence. Pop’s young promising rise was cut short, when he was murdered and robbed in his home in Hollywood Hills, California. He was found with multiple gunshots to the chest and his final words were, ‘Music is Life’.
12) “ I go to prepare a place for you” – Harriet Tubman.
Harriet Tubman was a civil rights activist, a suffragist, and a spy for the Union Army during the era of slavery. She is a momentous figure in black history as she escaped slavery and returned to free more slaves as a conductor for the underground railroad. In 1913, she was very sick with pneumonia. In her last moments, Tubman told her friends and family, “I go to prepare a place for you.”
13) “ I’m going to the bathroom to read” – Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley was known as the King of Rock and Roll, and his most popular hits, “Hound Dog and Can’t Help Falling in Love” was loved by many of his fans. Elvis had quite a controversial reputation himself, as critics had a problem with his dance moves but that didn’t stop Elvis as he turned out to be one of the biggest cultural icons of all time. He left this world with the final words, “I’m going to the bathroom to read.” which he had told his girlfriend, who later found him dead on the bathroom floor.
14)“ Yolanda…” – Selena Quintanilla-Pérez
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, who reigned as the Queen of Tejano, was a rising star until she was shot and killed at the Days Inn in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1994. Before passing away, Selena identified her killer to the desk clerk with her last words, “Yolanda . . . 158.” Referencing her former manager and friend, Yolanda Saldivar, who had tried to flee but was arrested by the FBI with a crowd of devastated fans crying at the scene.
15) “ You know I gotta do it” – Aaliyah
Aaliyah, dubbed as ‘Princess of R&B’, was the first artist in Billboard Hot 100 history to have a No.1 song that topped the charts solely through airplay. She died with eight others in a plane crash after filming a music video for the song, Rock the Boat, in the Bahamas. Her last words of courage were, “You know, I gotta do it.” she had said to her boyfriend after stating that she didn’t like the plane and he had advised her not to get on it.
16) ‘ Katie, I’ll be fine – Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger, the Australian actor, and heartthrob, was popularly known for his role in the movie, 10 Things I Hate About You. He died of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs. His last words to his sister over the phone were “Katie, Katie, I’ll be fine.”
17) I’m losing it” – Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra, who left us with his sultry voice and famous songs, is one of the most iconic artists of all time. So also, he ventured into Hollywood and was a successful actor. He suffered a fatal heart attack as he had been very ill towards the last years of his life. His wife, Barbara Marx, was by his side when he died and his last words were “I’m losing it.”
18) “ I don’t want to die” – Amy Winehouse
English singer and songwriter, Amy Winehouse, was a 5-time Grammy winner known for her deep contralto vocals and eclectic genre-blending. Winehouse died from alcohol poisoning, as she had a severe alcohol addiction and her final words to her doctor were, “I don’t want to die.”
19 ) “It has been said often that there are none so blind…” Maya Angelou
Without Maya Angelou’s impact, we wouldn’t have the great novel, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and the empowering poem, And Still, I Rise. Many schools use her works as part of their curriculum, even though critics have tried to get them banned. Not only was Angelou a writer, but she was also a civil rights activist who worked with Notable political figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.
It’s not surprising that her final words were also profound. Her last recorded words were, “It has been said often that there are none so blind as those who will not see. Some people go through life burdened by ignorance because they refuse to see. When they do not recognize the truth that they belong to their community and their community belongs to them…it is because they refuse to see.”
20) “ Brothers please…” Malcolm X
Malcolm X was a renowned figure in the civil rights movement. who was known for his controversial and radical views. His untimely death in 1965, left his entire nation and the world is shaken, while he was preparing to give a speech at Manhattan’s Audubon Ballroom when a staged disturbance occurred. As he tried to quell the dispute, he was assassinated by three men. Reports of his final words differ, with some witnesses claiming he said “Brothers! Brothers, please! This is a house of peace!” while others believe his final words were, “Now, now, brothers, break it up, be cool, be calm.”
The last words of these 20 international celebrities are a sobering reminder of the transient nature of life. But even in death, these iconic figures leave an indelible mark on the world, and their final words will remain part of their legacy. May their words be remembered as a sign of courage and a testament to the impact they made in the world.
