‘Left With Many Questions’: Daughter of Famed Actor Says She Learned of Father’s Death ‘Through the Media’ Forty-Five Days Later

John Amos, an Emmy-nominated actor whose groundbreaking career included roles in Roots, Good Times, and The West Wing, died on August 21, several news outlets reported on Tuesday. But some members of his family didn’t find out until those media reports came out.

Shannon Amos, Amos’s daughter, wrote in an Instagram post on Tuesday that her family had “received the heartbreaking news” that her father died “through the media like so many of you.” Alongside a video of her dancing on the beach with her father, she wrote:

I am without words… Our family has received the heartbreaking news that my Dad, John Allen Amos, Jr., transitioned on August 21st.

We are devastated and left with many questions about how this happened 45 days ago, learning about it through the media like so many of you.

This should be a time of honoring and celebrating his life, yet we are struggling to navigate the wave of emotions and uncertainties surrounding his passing. Still, there is some semblance of peace in knowing my father is finally free.

On Tuesday, CNN reported that Amos’s longtime publicist Belinda Foster told the outlet in a phone call about the actor’s death. Foster also provided a statement from Amos’s son Kelly Christopher Amos by email:

It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned. He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold… and he was loved the world over. Many fans consider him their TV father. He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.

The Wrap reported on Wednesday that Shannon Amos also posted an Instagram story claiming that Foster posed as Amos’s daughter when he was taken to the hospital the night he died:

In an Instagram story, she said that someone was in the ER the night of Amos’ death who falsely claimed to be his daughter. Shannon Amos accused Foster of being that person and referred to her as “the woman also posing at his publicist.” In another screenshotted post, someone claiming to be the parent of a hospital worker there the night of John Amos’ death wrote, “I’m just curious why it took so long for the daughter to announce it?”

“Because that wasn’t me,” Shannon Amos responded.

Foster was asked for a comment, but did not provide one to The Wrap at the time the article was published.

Shannon Amos previously reported her brother for elder abuse against their father and an investigation took place. John Amos denied that he was being neglected at the time. The Los Angeles Police Department closed the investigation in April due to lack of evidence.

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