The irreplacable, funk-rock god Prince passed away at his Paisley Park Studios the age of 57 on April 21. Usually, when a music legend passes, it’s those within the music world who react. But in a select few cases — too many of which have come in 2016 — the entire world grieves. Such is the case with The Purple One, who was instantly mourned on Twitter.
(WATCH: Rare Footage of Prince Performing “Purple Rain” in 1983)
But before that could happen, people had to accept that he had died. It was hard for people to think that an artist as otherworldly as Prince was subject to the same mortality as the rest of us.
..complex reports Prince has died….I can't even process
— Peter Rosenberg (@Rosenbergradio) April 21, 2016
Wait… Prince?!
— Nickle (@Royceda59) April 21, 2016
Just heard about Prince ….can't believe it ……. – KU
— Keith Urban (@KeithUrban) April 21, 2016
Just getting off the radio and can't even touch this Prince rumor right now. Can't deal.
— Mkay (@JoyAnnReid) April 21, 2016
Numb. Stunned. This can't be real.
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) April 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/cthagod/status/723192579689484288
Prince can't be dead.
— Vinny Mauro (@chenzomauro) April 21, 2016
I can't fucking breathe right now
— ?st (@questlove) April 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/jbouie/status/723187827765313536
https://twitter.com/DeionGill/status/723194243762679808
https://twitter.com/therealelp/status/723194630301339653
Once realization dawned that Prince was gone, people began sharing their favorite memories, songs and images of the oddball superstar.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEeMG89SdoM/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEeNiBcmEUL/
https://twitter.com/ScottAukerman/status/723194689545854976
Listen to tangerine by Prince or his cover of A case of you
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) April 21, 2016
"Dearly beloved
We are gathered here today
2 get through this thing called Life…"
-Prince— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) April 21, 2016
literally the greatest musician i have ever seen in my life. his show was like church and school rolled into one. pic.twitter.com/PUMgDtKFO1
— Rob Thomas (@ThisIsRobThomas) April 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/9thwonder/status/723200495972536320
We play Prince 'Wanna Be Your Lover' in every Dj set and will continue to do so forever. RIP to one of the best and one of our biggest icons
— The Knocks (@theknocks) April 21, 2016
Genius, legend, inspiration, friend.
The world will miss you.
I'll never get over it. pic.twitter.com/RXIZdfGNPw— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) April 21, 2016
One of the all-time greats is gone. Goodbye Prince. Guide us to that purple rain. :( #RIPPrince pic.twitter.com/xXW9jCzaxM
— Alamo Drafthouse DC Area (@AlamoDC) April 21, 2016
😔😔😔😔😔
In Minneapolis right now…and it's raining…
Prince…😔😔😔😔😔
— CHECKIN’ Out Now! #APTMC (@LupeFiasco) April 21, 2016
i promise this was the greatest moment of my entire life. i wish i could relive it everyday. pic.twitter.com/i7oax7tLYr
— Abel Tesfaye (@theweeknd) April 21, 2016
I LOVED him, the world LOVED him. Now he's at peace with his Father. Rest in power, @prince, my brother. pic.twitter.com/ZN6cc3WWuF
— C H A K A | K H A N (@ChakaKhan) April 21, 2016
Others simply shared their condolences:
Prince was brilliant and larger than life. What a sad day.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@EllenDeGeneres) April 21, 2016
Prince was a genius, and one of the greatest guitar players to ever walk the planet. RIP pic.twitter.com/bdbaB0zbAw
— Matt Mira (@MattMira) April 21, 2016
R.I.P PRINCE, another icon gone to soon
— SHAQ (@SHAQ) April 21, 2016
(A silent world. Completely void of sound) This is what it sounds like, when doves cry. #PRINCE
— LeVar Burton (@levarburton) April 21, 2016
And just like that…the world lost a lot of magic ✨ Rest in peace Prince! Thanks for giving us so much…
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) April 21, 2016
Oh my god I can’t believe that Prince has died…he was a great great talent…RIP
— Billy Idol (@BillyIdol) April 21, 2016
RIP to @prince…a true artist in every sense of the word. Gone way too soon.
— Quincy Jones (@QuincyDJones) April 21, 2016
I love you Prince.
— DAWN (@DawnRichard) April 21, 2016
RIP Prince 💔
— Bethany Cosentino (@BethanyCoast) April 21, 2016
#RIP Prince. Your music was the soundtrack to a special time in my life.
— Charlie Murphy (@charliemurphy) April 21, 2016
Mick Jagger went deep:
https://twitter.com/MickJagger/status/723237200108883969
https://twitter.com/MickJagger/status/723237307655028736
https://twitter.com/MickJagger/status/723237366266269700
https://twitter.com/MickJagger/status/723237411006894080
And many of Prince’s fellow Minnesotans wished him well:
https://twitter.com/YEAHRIGHTPOS/status/723195358034026496
https://twitter.com/atmosphere/status/723194445039067136
The Rev. Al Sharpton revealed that Prince had a humanitarian side (as anyone who heard “Baltimore” might have guessed):
An true musical genius, he was a sincere humanitarian . He would call me to get money quietly to families of victims including Trayvon's
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) April 21, 2016
And comics writer Gail Simone summed up how we all feel about the year that took David Bowie, Merle Haggard and now Prince:
Wait. PRINCE has died?
WHAT?
2016, PLEASE GO STRAIGHT TO HELL.
— Gail Simone 💙💛 (@GailSimone) April 21, 2016
With countless classics like Purple Rain and Parade, just to name a few, his impression will forever be felt. Rest in peace to a true legend.
