Floyd Mayweather Offers To Cover Cost Of George Floyd’s Funeral Services
Former professional boxer Floyd Mayweather has offered to pay for funeral services for George Floyd, an African American who died after a white police officer knelt on his neck during an arrest.
Protests have broken out across the globe in the wake of Floyd’s death on May 25, with people taking to the streets and to social media to spread the message that Black Lives Matter.
A number of celebrities have spoken out about injustice and systemic racism in an effort to help raise awareness for the issue, and Mayweather has shown his support by reaching out to help Floyd’s family.
Mayweather is said to have been ‘distraught’ when he learned of Floyd’s death, and was able to get in touch with the family through a mutual acquaintance, Anzel Jennings, CEO of music label TMT.
Jennings grew up with George Floyd in his hometown of Houston, Texas, and reached out to his family on Mayweather’s behalf. Wanting to do something to show his support for the family, Mayweather offered to pay for three funeral services for Floyd, Hollywood Unlocked reports.
One of the services will take place in George Floyd’s hometown, Houston, another in Minnesota, where he died, and a third in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Floyd’s family is reportedly looking to hold a fourth service in another location, which Floyd Mayweather has also offered to pay for.
The former five-division world champion told Hollywood Unlocked CEO Jason Lee of his plans during a private conversation, but Lee decided to share them because he feels Mayweather’s voice ‘has a global impact that needs to be heard, especially during these times.’
Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of the former boxer’s company Mayweather Promotions, confirmed the news to ESPN and revealed Floyd’s family has accepted his offer to pay for services.
He commented:
He’ll probably get mad at me for saying that, but yes, [Mayweather] is definitely paying for the funeral.
Floyd has done these kind of things over the last 20 years.
5 months agoMayweather doesn’t appear to have spoken publicly about his offer at the time of writing, June 2, and Ellerbe has said he doesn’t want to talk about the gesture.
While protests continue throughout the US, Floyd’s brother, Terrence, has urged those wanting to take action to do so in a non-violent manner.
In a speech given at the site where his brother was pinned down by former officer Derek Chauvin, Terrence said:
Y’all protest, y’all destroy stuff, and they don’t move. You know why they don’t move? Because it’s not their stuff, it’s our stuff…
So let’s do this another way. Let’s stop thinking that our voice don’t matter and vote.
Change needs to come in a way which will have long-lasting and beneficial effects to those who are continually faced with injustice; even if you cannot fully understand the movement, educate yourself and offer support where you can. Every effort to make positive change is worth doing.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact Stop Hate UK by visiting their website www.stophateuk.org/talk
Topics: News, Boxing, Derek Chauvin, Floyd Mayweather, George Floyd, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Now, Racism
