After the widow of late actor and comedian Anthony “A.J.” Johnson gave an emotional plea for financial help following her husband’s death, donations have poured into the GoFundMe account she initially suggested wasn’t getting enough support.
At that point by Wednesday morning, the GoFundMe had raised slightly more than $2,600 — a far cry from the account’s goal of $20,000. But after Lexis Jones Mason went public with her grievances and questioned the “fake love” from people who she said promised to donate but never did, the floodgates of contributions opened up majorly.
As of Thursday afternoon, more than $48,000 had been donated to the GoFundMe, ensuring that Mason will get to honor her husband “the way he deserves.”
Leading the donations was Johnson’s fellow comedian and actor, Lil Rel Howery. Lil Rel is credited with providing the largest single contribution of $4,000, which GoFundMe shows was submitted at some point on Wednesday.
Source: GoFundMe
That seemingly paved the way for a number of other lump sum donations totaling about 1,500 separate contributions that put Mason’s GoFundMe well past its goal.
While Mason didn’t immediately speak on the wave of donations, she did acknowledge some of them on her Instagram stories that showed screenshots of two separate contributions from her apparent sister and another family member, respectively.
Mason spoke with TMZ earlier this week and described how the outpouring of support for her family since Johnson’s death was decidedly not of the financial variety. Mason said she needed the assistance to help pay for a proper funeral for Johnson as well as to support their children and grandchildren.
An emotional Mason said at the time that she was confused at the inconsistency from Johnson’s friends and supporters.
“Y’all say y’all love him,” Mason said before asking: “Where is the love?”
She said the funeral costs were falling squarely on her shoulders, described the lack of immediate support as “just hurtful” and suggested Johnson did not have a life insurance policy for the family to fall back on.
“It’s people that’s saying that they’re gonna give money,” Mason emphasized. “We haven’t received it.”
Anthony “A.J.” Johnson | Source: Lexis Jones Mason / GoFundMe/Lexis Jones Mason
She said she expected funeral costs to be about $15,000 and that she asked for $20,000 on the GoFundMe so that her children could split whatever is left.
Mason was also adamant about people ending what she described as disingenuous condolences.
“If you guys want to give what they want to give, I will appreciate it,” she added. “But please stop the fake love, please stop the fake calls, please stop the fake texts.”
Johnson was found lifeless in a Los Angeles store in early September after a family member reportedly discovered him.
The actor who was widely known for his role on the “Friday” franchise of movies was rushed to the hospital but pronounced dead shortly after. There was no official cause of death immediately released.
LyNea Bell, a spokesperson for BH Talent which is the agency that represented Johnson, told Variety Magazine.
“He has left with us amazing memories of his laughter, dynamic acting skills, but most of all his enormous personality and heart of gold. We will be in constant prayer for his entire family including his wife Lexis, three children, brother Edward ‘Peanut’ Smith, sister Sheila, and lifetime manager and friend Mike D. Please give them the time they need to process and grieve such a huge loss.”
SEE ALSO:
10 Hilarious Comedy Moments Starring The Late Anthony “AJ” Johnson [Watch]
AJ Johnson’s Wife Claims She’s Getting A Lot Of Fake Love But Little Support [Video]
Rest In Power: Notable Black Folks Who We’ve Lost In 2021
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1. Anthony “A.J.” Johnson, comedian and actor, 56
Source:Instagram.com/therealajjohnson
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2. Michael K. Williams, actor, 54
Source:Getty
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3. Carl Bean, gay preacher, 77
🧵More sad news fam…HIV/AIDS activist Archbishop Carl Bean, the founder of Minority AIDS Project and Unity Fellowship Church–often nicknamed the Black gay church for being the country’s 1st Black church affirming of the #LGBTQ community has transitioned and is now an ancestor. pic.twitter.com/r5bOBhyPtj
— Jasmyne Cannick (@Jasmyne) September 7, 2021
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4. Jacob Desvarieux, guitarist, 65
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5. Fuquan Johnson, comedian, 42
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6. Greg Leaks, tv personality, 66
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7. Hissène Habré, former president of Chad, 79
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8. Chucky Thompson, music producer, 53
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9. Steve “Zumbi” Gaines, rapper, 49
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10. Cameron Burrell, track star and Carl Lewis’ godson, 26
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11. Paul Johnson, house music DJ, 50
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12. Bob Moses, civil rights leader, 86
Source:Getty
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13. Rachael Oniga, Nollywood actress, 64
Nigeria has lost an absolute veteran & iconic actress – RIP Rachel Oniga 💔💔🥺 pic.twitter.com/zD3VhRQpyK
— ✨👑 DaddyMO👑✨ (@therealdaddymo1) July 31, 2021
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14. Glen Ford, veteran journalist and Black Agenda Report founder, 71
Source:LinkedIn
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15. Gloria Richardson, civil rights pioneer, 99
Source:Getty
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16. Biz Markie, hip-hop legend, 57
Source:Getty
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17. Charlie Robinson, actor, 75
Source:Getty
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18. Matima “Swavy” Miller, social media star, 19
Source:GoFundMe
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19. Suzzanne Douglas, actress, 64
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20. Abdalelah Haroun, track and field star, 24
Source:Getty
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21. Consuewella Dotson Africa, MOVE leader, 67
Heartbroken to learn that Consuewella Africa passed away today. She was arrested on Aug 8, 1978 w/ the MOVE 9 + spent 16 yrs in prison. May 13th, 1985, her daughters Netta and Tree were murdered. 2 mos ago, we learned Penn Museum held hostage Tree’s remains. And now she is gone pic.twitter.com/nZSW7Yu2yE
— Krystal Strong (@misskstrong) June 16, 2021
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22. Martha White, civil rights activist, 99
Source:Twitter
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24. Clarence Williams III, actor, 81
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25. Samuel Wright, actor, 74
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26. Chi Modu, photographer, 54
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27. Paul Mooney, comedian, writer, 79
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28. Lee Evans, Olympic champion, 74
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29. Frank McRae, actor and former NFL player, 80
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30. Eugene Webb, NYC real estate broker, 102
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31. Pervis Staples, singer, 85
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32. Curtis Fuller, legendary jazz trombonist, 88
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33. Henrietta Turnquest, pioneering Black woman politician, 73
MARTA is saddened by the passing of Henrietta Turnquest, who was appointed to the MARTA Board in 2003, the first African American woman to be appointed and serve on the MARTA Board of Directors. https://t.co/nTGaNeRfIk pic.twitter.com/CFdMRiFT9h
— MARTA (@MARTAservice) May 4, 2021
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34. Shock G, rapper-producer, 57
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35. Antron Pippen, 33
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36. Black Rob, rapper, 51
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37. Gerren Taylor, model, 30
Source:WENN
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38. DMX, rapper, actor, 50
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39. Midwin Charles, attorney, 47
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40. Alcee Hastings, congressman, 84
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41. Alvin Sykes, civil rights activist, 64
Source:Kansas City Public Library
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42. Sarah Obama, paternal step-grandmother of Barack Obama, 99
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43. Craig “muMs” Grant, poet-actor
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44. Elgin Baylor, NBA legend, 86
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45. Yaphet Kotto, actor, 81
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46. Reggie Warren, singer, 52
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47. Jo Thompson, muscian-singer, 92
Jo Thompson broke racial barriers during the decades she played the piano and sang to audiences from Detroit’s top supper clubs to ones in Cuba, New York, London and Paris during the 1950s. https://t.co/9GGN8Njdx4
— The Detroit News (@detroitnews) March 11, 2021
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49. “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler, boxing legend, 66
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50. Robert Ashby, military hero, 95
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51. Obe Noir, rapper-activist, 31
Source:Instagram
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52. Marshall Latimore, journalist, 36
Source:The Atlanta Voice
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53. Lawrence Otis Graham, author, 59
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54. Jahmil French, actor, 28
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55. Bunny Wailer, reggae icon, 73
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56. Irv Cross, legendary broadcaster, 81
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57. Shelia Washington, founder, Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center, 61
Source:William H. Hampton
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58. Antoine Hodge, opera singer, 38
Source:GoFundMe
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59. Douglas Turner Ward, actor, Negro Ensemble Company co-founder, 90
Source:WENN
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60. Prince Markie Dee, rapper, 52
Source:Getty
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61. Vincent Jackson, former NFL star, 38
Source:Getty
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62. Danny Ray, MC who put cape on James Brown, 85
Source:Getty
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63. Frederick K.C. Price, evangelist, 89
“They know if we ever let these Black people get equality that they will take over they will be on top of everything” – Frederick K. C. Price pic.twitter.com/NYI11QgTEz
— The Black Detour (@theblackdetour) February 12, 2021
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64. Terez Paylor, sports journalist, 37
Source:facebook
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65. Mary Wilson, co-founder of The Supremes, 76
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66. Karen Lewis, former Chicago Teachers Union president, 67
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67. Leon Spinks, former heavyweight champion, 67
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68. Dianne Durham, gymnast, 52
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69. John Chaney, college basketball coaching legend, 89
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70. Cicely Tyson, actresss, 96
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71. Hank Aaron, MLB icon, 86
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72. Duranice Pace, gospel singer, 62
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73. Tim Lester, NFL star, 52
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74. Bryan Monroe, former NABJ president, 55
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75. Meredith C. Anding Jr., civil rights icon, 79
We are saddened to hear of the passing of Meredith Anding Jr., one of the Tougaloo College students who attempted to integrate the Jackson Municipal Library in 1961. Thank you for taking a stand for Freedom! Our thoughts and prayers are with the Anding family. pic.twitter.com/HC1tURbUd2
— Medgar&MyrlieEversInstitute (@MMEI63) January 12, 2021
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76. Eric Jerome Dickey, best-selling author, 59
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77. Floyd Little, football legend, 78
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Lil Rel Steps In Big Time After A.J. Johnson’s Widow Said No One Was Donating To Husband’s GoFundMe
was originally published on
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