Former President Donald Trump has announced the death of social media personality and entertainer Lynette Hardaway, better known as “Diamond” from the “Diamond and Silk” sister duo.
Trump made the announcement in a statement on Truth Social on Jan. 9 where he said that Hardaway, 51, had died at her home in North Carolina and was accompanied by her sister “Silk,” also known as Herneitha Rochelle Richardson.
The former president called Hardaway’s death “really bad news for Republicans and frankly, all Americans.”
“Our beautiful Diamond, of Diamond and Silk, has just passed away at her home in the State she loved so much, North Carolina,” Trump wrote. “Silk was with her all the way, and at her passing. There was no better team anywhere, or at any time! Diamond’s death was totally unexpected, probably her big and precious heart just plain gave out. Rest In Peace our magnificent Diamond, you will be greatly missed!”
Diamond and Silk’s official Twitter account also confirmed Hardaway’s death on Monday, writing that the world “just lost a True Angel and Warrior Patriot for Freedom, Love, and Humanity!”
‘Please Pray for Diamond’
The account states that donations can be made to a memorial fundraiser page at a crowdfunding website.
No further details regarding the cause of Hardaway’s death were provided, however in November Richardson had asked her Twitter followers to pray for her sister.
“Anyone who believes in the power of prayer please pray for Diamond,” Richardson wrote at the time, without providing further details.
MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, who hosted a video series for the sisters, told The Daily Beast that Hardaway had been sick prior to her death on Monday.
Hardaway and Richardson shot to fame in 2016 thanks to their social media videos sharing their support for Trump’s White House bid. The sisters, previously longtime Democrats, had remained loyal to Trump since and were present at Mar-a-Lago when he announced his 2024 bid.
NBC News reported that the duo went on to land their own contributor jobs on Fox News’ Fox Nation but were later pulled from the network in 2020 after questioning the number of COVID-19 deaths on air.
