By: Maria Williams
Law enforcement contacted Bonét on the evening of August 19th, 2024 with troubling news. She was made aware that her son was hurt and that further details would need to be given to her in person. At the time of the phone call the specifics of what had actually happened were limited, the only thing that was relayed was that he was injured but still alive. Unfortunately when detectives finally arrived, it was to deliver the heart wrenching news that her son had passed away in the ambulance ride to the hospital. Later on that evening the specifics of the child’s untimely passing were shared with his parents, but kept private from news and media outlets out of respect for the families privacy. Outside of who we know as the artist, Rene Bonét seems to be mostly a private person, and so when the news broke, many people were surprised to find out that, in addition to being a multi-charting singer-songwriter she is also a mother.
On August 20, 2024, the beloved singer-songwriter took to Instagram with a heart-wrenching message that has since been removed. It read, “Yesterday, someone took my son’s life. If I don’t respond, please know it’s not personal; I’m not okay.” This devastating news sent shockwaves through social media. The “Nights Like This,” singer was overwhelmed by an outpouring of love and sympathy from fans across the globe. The R&B artist, who is widely known for her viral cover of “Before I Let You Go,” which caught the attention of R&B legend Teddy Riley, remained quiet after her initial message. Later that week, her management team at Novelty Publishing Group, shared a poignant statement: “A few days ago Rene Bonét suffered the tragic loss of her son. At this time we ask that she and the family’s privacy be respected, and that she be given the time to grieve in peace”. They also announced that all upcoming appearances and engagements would be postponed.
Since that heartbreaking announcement, several news and social media outlets have reached out to Bonét’s label and management team and they have continued to deny making a comment on the situation and have refused to give out any details as to the specifics of her child’s death. We can only assume that based on her initial message on August 20th, 2024, that he was killed, and did not die of illness or natural causes. We are not sure if foul play is suspected at this time and, Rene has remained mostly silent, sharing only a few intimate glimpses on her Instagram stories—one featuring a cherished video of her son dancing with the heartfelt caption “Mommy Misses You,”. In the video, which has since been deleted, the child seemed to be between 5 and 8 years old. This is the only thing that we have been able to find out in regards to the child’s age, and there is no telling how current the video is.
In another instagram story post she shared a picture with balloons floating into the sky, this is likely to be taken from a memorial service. The singer has since taken a hiatus from social media, with her last recorded post being from earlier this year around May or June which is shortly after E News announced that she had secured a major deal with SRG/ILS, Virgin Music and Universal Music Group
Our hearts ache for Rene Bonét and her family, as the pain of losing a child is a sorrow that no one should ever have to endure. As of now, there still has been no further information released about the circumstances surrounding her son’s tragic passing or his age.
Published By: Aize Perez
