Chadwick Boseman's Final Tweet Sets A Twitter Record
On Aug. 28, 2020, Chadwick Boseman's social media accounts revealed that the beloved actor had died, at age 43, after a four-year battle with colon cancer. The Black Panther star had kept his health problems private, so news of his death was both shocking and devastating.
A statement shared on Boseman's Twitter and Instagram revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer in 2016. "A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much. From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and several more, all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy," the post revealed. "It was the honor of his career to bring King T'Challa to life in Black Panther."
Boseman reportedly passed away "in his home, with his wife and family by his side." His loved ones expressed gratitude for the "love and prayers" and requested "privacy during this difficult time."
As the sad news quickly spread, tributes from fans of all ages and condolences from colleagues and other celebrities poured in, saturating online platforms with messages about Boseman's tremendous impact. In fact, that post announcing Boseman's death on his Twitter account became the "most liked tweet" post in the history of Twitter. On Aug. 29, 2020, the official Twitter account for Twitter itself revealed the record, calling it a "tribute fit for a King," along with the hashtag #WakandaForever.
Chadwick Boseman's tweet surpassed Barack Obama's record for the most 'likes'
Before the message on Chadwick Boseman's Twitter became the "most liked" post on Twitter, tweets from former President Barack Obama had held the top spots on the social media platform, according to The Hill.
In Aug. 12, 2017, Obama tweeted: "No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion" — a message borrowed from former South African President Nelson Mandela. Obama's tweet has received approximately 4.3 million "likes" on Twitter to date.
Obama also attracted a lot of attention from Twitter on Jan. 26, 2020, when he tweeted about the tragic deaths of Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Bryant. "Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act," Obama said. "To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day." That tweet has received more than 4 million likes.
As of Aug. 31, 2020, Boseman's tweet has received more than 7.4 million "likes."
Following Boseman's death, Obama shared his own tribute to the 42 star, writing, "Chadwick came to the White House to work with kids when he was playing Jackie Robinson. You could tell right away that he was blessed. To be young, gifted, and Black; to use that power to give them heroes to look up to; to do it all while in pain — what a use of his years."