Solange’s heartfelt tribute to her and Beyoncé’s late gay uncle resurfaces
Solange penned a sweet message for her and Beyoncé’s uncle Johnny in 2020. (Getty Images/Instagram)
An Instagram post that Solange wrote in 2020 about her and Beyoncé’s gay uncle Johnny (also known as Jonny) has resurfaced amidst the release of RENAISSANCE.
A screenshot of the sweet, heartfelt Instagram caption and photo of Solange and her uncle Johnny, who was Tina Knowles’ nephew, was shared by a Twitter fan page.
The caption read: “this is my uncle jonhny i miss him a whole lot today he was my nanny from 2 until 7, my caretaker, my best friend, my partner in crime (insert cocktail, and barbie’s ass face down on probably a regular tuesday afternoon while my parents were at work lol).
“i loved him and he made me feel safe and accepted my lil bad weird ass for who I was because he was juss… like he died pretty suddenly, (so did my childhood therapist who was there to help me cope with loss), and my very best friend marsai.
“there’s something that happens to a child who experiences this kind of loss to people they feel the most safe and seen by. u prime yourself to expect if/when they get close to someone, the person will most likely leave them.
“ive been an expert at leaving people first, cutting peeps off, and going on about my day no tears shed… but now experiences in my life are stretching me and teaching me how to step into faith and the things I know to be true. what i am deserving of. i miss johnny and johnny would be proud of meeeee.”
Solange posted about Uncle Jonny back in 2020 🥺❤️ Based on what they’ve shared, he was Tina’s nephew who she grew up with and played a major role in raising Beyoncé and Solange. Jonny was gay and HIV positive pic.twitter.com/gnaWiByN1M
— Hues & Culture (@HuesAndCulture) July 30, 2022
Uncle Johnny played a big part in Beyoncé and Solange’s life before he died from HIV complications. Beyoncé dedicated her seventh album RENAISSANCE to her uncle Johnny in the CD booklet.
It reads: “A big thank you to my uncle Johnny. He was my godmother and the first person to expose me to a lot of the music and culture that serve as inspiration for this album.”
Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Lawson, took to Instagram to praise Beyoncé’s tribute and stated that he helped “raise” Solange and Beyoncé.
“Johnny was the closest human being in the world to me, we were inseparable growing up! Later He was my nanny/housekeeper/designer/dance partner/confidante and bestie. I laughed constantly with him and trusted him unconditionally! When he died a piece of me went with him. Solange and Beyoncé worshiped him. He helped me raise them,” she wrote.
“Last night she told me to listen closely at the end of the song “Heated” and I heard for the first time her saying: ‘Uncle Johnny Made my dress’ and I got so teary-eyed. You see Johnny loved house music! And introduced my kids to it early on. He is smiling from Heaven at Bey right now! Saying you did that Ms Thing!!”
RENAISSANCE is Beyoncé’s first album since her 2016’s Grammy award-winning album, Lemonade.
