After Jamal Edwards died this weekend, his mother Brenda revealed the 31-year-cause old’s of death.
Representatives from Edwards’ media company confirmed to the BBC that the influential British author, presenter, DJ, and founder of SB.TV died unexpectedly on Sunday morning, following claims on social media.
Edwards was reported to have performed as a DJ at a gig in north London on Saturday night after attending the BRIT Awards earlier this month (February 19).
Speaking on Good Morning Britain this morning (February 21), Brenda said she was “completely devastated” by her son’s death.
Loose Women panellist Brenda added, in a statement shared on the show’s social media accounts, “It is with the deepest heartache that I can confirm that my beautiful son Jamal Edwards passed away yesterday morning after a sudden illness.
“Myself, his sister Tanisha and the rest of his family and friends are completely devastated. He was the centre of our world.”
She added: “Jamal was an inspiration to myself and so many. Our love for him lives on, his legacy lives on. Long live Jamal Edwards MBE, MBA, PHD.”
Edwards founded SB.TV in 2006 while still a teenager to capture the UK grime culture. The YouTuber’s channel has grown to become a multimillion-pound online youth broadcaster.
Jake Bugg, Banks, and Clean Bandit performed some of their first, unique performances on the channel. It also aided the fortunes of performers such as Dave, Ed Sheeran, Jessie J, and others.
Edwards was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List in 2014. He was one of the youngest people to ever get the award, at the age of 24.
Writing about receiving his MBE on Facebook in 2014, Edwards – who was also an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust – commented: “I’m honoured to be one of the youngest people awarded with an MBE on this years New Honours list.
“Never in a million years did I ever think I would receive such an accolade. For me this is about us the YOUTH, with so much negativity around us it’s hard sometimes to stay positive and fight for your dreams.”
Tributes have poured in for Edwards on social media, including ones from Dave, George The Poet and AJ Tracey.
Tracey wrote: “RIP Jamal Edwards, West London legend status”, while Dave added: “Thank you for everything”
The organisers of the MOBO Awards said they were “deeply saddened” by news of Edwards’ death.
They continued: “As the founder of @SBTVonline, his groundbreaking work & legacy in British music and culture will live on. Our hearts and thoughts are with his friends and family.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also joined in the tributes, writing on Twitter that the British music and entertainment scene had “has lost one of its brightest stars”.