According to the late actor's longtime publicist, Belinda Foster, the reason for this request had a lot to do with his daughter.
John Amos, famous for his work in both sitcoms and historical dramas such as "Good Times" and "Roots," passed away on August 21, 2024, at the age of 84. Despite this, his death wasn't announced until October 1, 2024, by his son, KC Amos. The delay caused a public rift between the actor's family members, but a new statement aims to shed light on the issue.
Tensions surrounding John's death became apparent the day after the public learned of his passing. On October 2, a collective statement was released on Facebook by his daughter, Shannon Amos, along with his goddaughter, Amy Goudy (who shared the statement online) and other individuals close to the family.
In this post, they accused KC of withholding the news of his father's death from the rest of the family. They expressed their sadness over being kept in the dark about his declining health and only learned of John's death through media reports.
John Amos attends the Rashad Jennings Foundation's 2nd Annual Giant Night Of Comedy at Gotham Comedy Club in New York City, on September 26, 2016 | Source: Getty Images
They also questioned why they were not informed and why the news was delayed, leading to even more worry and speculation from the public.
However, Belinda Foster, John's longtime publicist, responded to these allegations in an exclusive statement to People. She denied any wrongdoing on KC's part, claiming he had only been following his father's wishes.
Foster also addressed past accusations of elder abuse that Shannon had made against her brother. According to the publicist, Shannon’s claims were false, and John was well taken care of by a small group of trusted individuals. This included her, KC, and Eugene Brummet.
Law enforcement officers had previously investigated these claims and found no evidence of abuse. Foster added that John had been clear-headed and mentally sound, even conducting interviews and working on projects in the months leading up to his death.
John Amos and director K.C. Amos at the 2015 Voice Arts Awards at Pacific Design Center on November 15, 2015 in West Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images
The joint statement from Shannon, Amy, and others also pointed towards the absence of a death certificate, which only put more uncertainty on the matter.
However, a death certificate procured by People on October 2nd disclosed that John died from congestive heart failure at an Inglewood, California hospital at 5:18 p.m. on August 21. The document also verified that his remains underwent cremation on August 30 and that KC had officially reported the death to Los Angeles County.
Furthermore, Foster explained that a court in New Jersey had imposed a no-contact order on KC in 2023 due to a complaint Shannon had filed against him.
As a result, KC was legally barred from informing Shannon of their father’s death. The publicist also revealed that John had grown worried about how Shannon might react to his passing.
"At the time of his death, John was concerned that Shannon might turn his death and interment into a circus as she had done with other aspects of his life," Foster added. "It was John who requested the delay in announcing his death to Shannon and the rest of the world."
This revelation ignited a firestorm on social media, where users strongly shared their mixed opinions. One fan commented, "So sad and heartbreaking... John Amos legacy didn’t deserve this family infighting, especially in the public."
Another echoed, "Well it sure turned into a circus anyway…. This whole story is sad….[sic]." One fan added, "John Amos final wish? If this is true. Then his son honored his wishes."
However, many netizens were more skeptical. One commenter suggested, "Lies, his son released this statement I bet!!!" Another said, "Wow, manipulating the media is diabolical and sinister. I still believe the sister."
Shannon Amos speaks on the circumstances surrounding her dad's death on her Instagram stories on October 1, 2024 | Source: Instagram/stories/officialshannonamos/
Another user said, "Disturbing, but you’re all SUSPICIOUS at this point." In the end, these comments only reflect the complexity of the situation.
As reported previously, the statement released by Amy, Shannon, and more also claimed that KC, Brummet, and Foster had isolated John from his close friends and relatives over the past year.
Shannon Amos mourns her dad in her Instagram stories dated October 1, 2024 | Source: Instagram/stories/officialshannonamos/
They allegedly controlled access to him and severed ties with key family members, including John's daughter, Shannon Amos, his brother, Leslie "Syl" Franklin, and his grandchildren, Quiera Colston and Jhazz Williams.
Despite efforts to stay connected, the family claims KC monitored John's calls and cut him off from those who cared about him the most. Other people who couldn't contact John were his business manager, Paul Baldessare, his niece, Sherri Korsun, and his former accountant.
John Amos visits SiriusXM Studios in New York City, on October 10, 2017 | Source: Getty Images
The family also revealed that while KC portrayed an image of a close father-son bond on social media, the reality was far more complex. John was allegedly being given verbal prompts to maintain a narrative that wasn't reflective of his true situation.
The family also expressed concerns about John's well-being in his last days. They shared, "We were deeply concerned that our father may have been neglected and isolated during his final days as we recieved photos from concerned neighbors and a medical professional. One photo even prompted an Elder Abuse investigation to no avail."
These concerns mirrored a previous family experience when KC allegedly prevented Shannon from being involved in their mother's final days. In addition to the emotional toll of losing their patriarch, the family now faces the distressing possibility of foul play.
This led to questions on why no medical professionals, coroner, or authorities informed them of John's death and why KC did not notify any family members directly.
The family reiterated, "We believe there are critical questions that need answers, especially since we believe KC likely made the decision to have John Amos cremated without the family’s knowledge. We suspect these actions may have been taken to alter potential wills and collect life insurance or other benefits."
Further complicating the matter are KC's past struggles with addiction and mental health issues, as well as previous arrests, which have raised more suspicions about the circumstances of John's death.
The family's anguish is compounded by the involvement of Eugene and Belinda, who they believe may have taken advantage of John's' vulnerability while claiming to be his spokesperson. They accused the two of exploiting the actor's status as an elder.
Therefore, as they mourn the loss of their beloved father, the family finds themselves not only grieving but also fighting for justice and clarity, refusing to rule out the possibility of foul play.
"At a time when we should be grieving and celebrating our father's remarkable life, we find ourselves in the unfortunate position of seeking justice and clarity," the statement concluded. Other family members and friends have spoken out individually, mourning the loss of the legendary actor but condemning the circumstances surrounding his death.
Sherri, who knew Amos as "Uncle Sonny," wrote, "Our hearts are torn because we all just found out today. It's so hard to write because families don't operate this way." Meanwhile, Shannon, who shared Sherri's words on her Instagram stories, also penned, "The truth will always reveal itself."
Sherri Korsun pays tribute to her uncle John Amos, from Shannon Amos's Instagram stories dated October 1, 2024 | Source: Instagram/stories/officialshannonamos/
KC has yet to respond to any of these allegations or shed light on the circumstances surrounding his father's death. However, the actor had previously denied that he had suffered elderly abuse at the hands of his son in a video shared in 2023.
The actor, who was in a hospital bed in Memphis, with his son by his side, said he had been hospitalized due to a water retention issue and was under great medical care.
John noted that before entering the hospital, he had been experiencing ongoing issues with Shannon, feeling that she had taken advantage of him. He attributed his experiences of elderly abuse to her actions.
As for KC, his social media portrayed a picture of a supportive and loving son. His last post on Instagram about his father showcased a close bond between them. The two met basketball player Bill Walton, taking several pictures with him, which KC shared when he passed away.
He paid tribute to Bill, writing, "He was as genuine as they come & his vibrant personality had us smiling from ear to ear. He will certainly be missed by the great many people who he inspired."
As of this writing, the rest of the family hasn't responded to Foster's statement.
