Why John Amos Wanted To Delay Announcing His Death To The World

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On Oct. 1, news broke that legendary actor John Amos had passed away at 84, but details that came after were unclear and murky. It began when it was revealed that Amos actually died in August of natural causes. The following day, Amos’ daughter Shannon and goddaughter Amy Goudy released a lengthy statement on Facebook, saying that Amos’ son Kelly Christopher “K.C.” mistreated his father in his final days.

The statement read that they weren’t made aware of his passing but knew he was in poor health, suffering from congestive heart failure and dementia.

“Over the past year, John Amos was isolated from his family and close friends by Kelly “KC” Amos, Eugene Brummet, and Belinda Foster. Despite our repeated attempts to maintain contact, KC prevented access to him, controlled and monitored his calls and severed ties with John’s daughter Shannon Amos,” the statement reads in part. The family also isn’t ruling out foul play surrounding his death. K.C. was the one who reported his death to Los Angeles County and reportedly has his father’s ashes, writing, “It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned.” Now, Belinda Foster, Amos’ longtime publicist, is refuting the claims that his daughter made, specifically that Amos was abused. “Shannon’s claims that John was abused are false,” Foster exclusively told People. “K.C., Eugene and I, along with numerous others cared for him. On several occasions when Shannon claimed that he was abused, law enforcement authorities sat with John and confirmed his well-being.” Foster goes on to say that his daughter was purposely not made aware of his death because as part of K.C.’s conditional release, he wasn’t allowed to make contact with her, plus Amos “was concerned that Shannon might turn his death and interment into a circus as she had done with other aspects of his life.”

“It was John who requested the delay in announcing his death to Shannon and the rest of the world,” Foster added.

Amos is best known for playing adult Kunte Kinte in the miniseries Roots and made history as the first Black father on television in the 1970s sitcom Good Times. See how social media is reacting to the drama surrounding Amos’ death below.