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The Capital Evening Show with Jimmy Hill 7pm - 10pm
8 July 2019, 12:31
"Please don't take life as a joke because life can be taken away from you like that."
Skai Jackson has urged the internet to stop making insensitive memes about death following the passing of Cameron Boyce. On Sunday (July 7), it was announced that the Disney star had died in his sleep aged 20, as a result of an ongoing medical condition he was being treated for, a statement from his family read.
Skai Jackson calls out Twitter trolls for claiming that she had been murdered
Tributes for the Descendants actor rolled in and Skai was one of the first to express her grief. Skai and Cameron had worked closely together on Disney channel series Jessie. The teen actress posted several photos on Instagram with Cameron on set following the news, alongside a heartfelt caption.
"Cam, you were one of a kind," she wrote. "My heart will be forever broken. I am so happy that I got to spend almost everyday with you on set, you gave the best hugs. I wish I would have hugged you tighter when I saw you a couple of months ago. Thank you so much for being the big brother I never had."
Following the post, Skai started an emotional Instagram Live where she asked people to be nice to one another because they won't always be around and to stop making memes about people's death.
"I know you guys think it's a joke, but I don't think it's a joke when you guys, you know, are commenting rest in peace to people who aren't dead and thinking it's a joke and creating memes about it," she explained. "You know, tomorrow is not promised so I'm asking you guys to please stop that and not even just with me, with people in general.
"It's not funny, it's not a joke and death shouldn't be taken as a joke because it's not. But I just wanted to say stay positive, I know it's hard for all of us right now but it will get better eventually… hopefully sometime soon."
Skai also appeared to be referring to insensitive rumours that she was dead, which emerged earlier this year. In February, Skai called out sick trolls who made up that she had been murdered.
She continued: "But I do love you all so much but please don't do that. Commenting rest in peace has to stop. Please don't take life as a joke, please don't joke about it because life can be taken away from you like that, um, as you guys can see. So, that's pretty much what I wanted to say."