Cancer-stricken teenager dies four days after FaceTime with Beyoncé
The teenage Beyoncé fan whose friends managed to get her a FaceTime call from the star has died of cancer just four days after she spoke to her idol.
Ebony Banks’ heartbreaking story reached the 35-year-old pregnant singer through a social media campaign that Ebony’s friends started online and the Formation singer then surprised the teenager, who has been battling with a rare form of cancer, with a video call on Wednesday.
Shortly after Beyoncé granted her final wish, the youngster passed away on Sunday.
Beyoncé facetiming with Ebony, a fan with a rare cancer disease whose last wish was to see Beyoncé. ❤️️???? pic.twitter.com/pCkGzF4feZ
— BEYONCÉ LEGION (@Bey_Legion) March 22, 2017
A staff member of MD Anderson Cancer Center, where Ebony had been treated, confirmed the sad news and a candlelit vigil was held for the teenager at LeRoy Crump Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Sunday evening.
The Alief Independent Schools District shared images from the vigil on Twitter, along with the caption: “Sights from tonight’s vigil for @AliefHastingsHS student Ebony Banks”
And her school, Alief Hastings High School, have announced they will hold a special memorial service in honour of the senior.
Sights from tonight’s vigil for @AliefHastingsHS student Ebony Banks pic.twitter.com/7O4yFw8VPq
— Alief ISD (@AliefISD) 27 March 2017
They posted on Twitter on Monday: “Students for Christ will hold a prayer service for Ebony Banks tomorrow morning at 6:45 in the theatre. All are welcome.”
Beyonce – who has five-year-old daughter Blue Ivy with her husband Jay Z and is pregnant with twins – learnt about Ebony’s dream to meet her through her school friends, who started up a campaign on social media with the hashtag #EbobmeetsBeyoncé in a bid to get Beyoncé’s “attention” and make their classmate’s dreams come true.
Speaking about the plan, one of Ebony’s friends, Karina Gutierrez, said: “Beyoncé is one of her idols. She admires her so much, so we’re trying to put that on Twitter and Instagram to get Beyoncé’s attention.”
This was so Heart warming to me. I have cried several times. We did it Beyhive!????❤???? #ebonymeetsbeyonce ???? pic.twitter.com/3YeCcQYaNK
— Erin Sinnott✌???????????? (@erin_sinnott4) March 23, 2017
And another pal, Cristal Depaz, had vowed to do all she can to ensure Ebony is happy, despite her illness.
She explained: “We try to make sure she has a smile on her face and to make her wishes come true.”
A video of the ‘Formation’ singer conversing with Ebony has since been shared on social media, which sees the vocalist wave and smile at her fan before declaring her love to her.
In the clip, which has gone viral, Beyoncé said: “I love you.”
#ebonymeetsbeyonce I just red this lil story and I feel like I have to post this ???????? ( not my pictures btw ) pic.twitter.com/pA1oWYGKNx
— Ⓜ️yles 〽️inter ® (@mylesno_austin) March 17, 2017
And the ‘Dreamgirls’ actress’ response to the efforts stunned Ebony and her friends who put the plan into action.
Shayna McKnight said: “It was like, wow, it really happened. We actually got her attention.”