Actor AJ “Ezal” Johnson will be laid to rest soon after being discovered lifeless in a store earlier this month. The beloved comic has received an outpouring of love and support from fans and celebrity friends who have been shocked by his sudden passing. Michael Blackson was one of the first to take to social media to express his sadness over the loss of his friend. Now the comedian is putting his money where his mouth is and helping out Johnson’s family with funeral expenses.
Blackson took to Twitter shortly after news broke that Johnson had passed away to reflect on the memory of his friend. “This one hurts. I was very close to this guy. [heartbreak emoji]. Rest well, AJ Johnson,” the Blackson shared. Michael Blackson and Johnson starred opposite each other in 2006’s Repos, and 2019’s I Got The Hook-Up 2.
According to Johnson’s wife, the actor passed away without insurance, so the family created a GoFundMe account to raise $20,000 to cover burial costs. However, after one day of starting the GoFundMe, Johnson’s wife, Lexis Jones Mason, only raised $700. Lexis became frustrated at the lack of support from celebrities and friends who offered assistance, causing her to turn to social media. “People saying we’re going to give money, I have not received it,” she said in a video posted to her social media. “If you want to give, I will appreciate it. But please stop the fake love, fake calls, fake texts. please.” Lexis also made it clear that she will do whatever needs to be done to assure her husband is laid to rest properly, with or without help.
TMZ shared the video of Lexis revealing she hadn’t received money from individuals who offered to help. Hours later, the video went viral across social media, and donations began pouring in. Once the account reached $10,000, comedian Michael Blackson stepped up and matched the donations, helping Johnson’s family reach their goal of $20,000. Blackson took to Instagram to show a check written out to AJ’s family.
Currently, Johnson’s GoFundMe account has surpassed the $20,000 goal, currently over $40,000. In the video, Lexis revealed she plans to cover the funeral costs with the donations and put some money away for their kids.
