On June 18th, 2023, a 24-year-old gay man named Josiah “Jonty” Robinson was murdered on a beach in Grenada. It is suspected that the out singer-songwriter was a victim of a hate crime, targeted because of his sexuality.
Robinson, who performed under the name Josiah Dream, was close friends with publicist Yvette Noel-Schure and British Vogue writer Tenille Clarke. Read Clarke’s moving tribute piece to her friend here.
On Wednesday, July 27th, writer, filmmaker, actor, and activist Tyler Perry posted about the tragedy on Instagram.
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“A few days ago I got an extremely heartbreaking phone call from my friend, Yvette Noel-Schure. Through her tears and grief she was telling me that in her home country of Grenada, a young man that was like a son to her was murdered,” Perry wrote.
“My soul ached as she shared that he was a young, gifted singer who was murdered because he was gay.”
Perry continued by saying, “My mind immediately went to [Matthew] Shepard, and all the other victims of racist, homophobic, antisemitic, xenophobic, senseless violence. This kid was 23, how is this ok? His mother is devastated. This pain is too common – the same pain of Marcia Williams, who I’ve been trying to help to find out what happened to her son Terrance in Collier County, Florida for years now.”
Perry also talked about something similar he and his family have went through, explaining why he is so dedicated to getting to the bottom of this horrific tragedy.
“The pain of not knowing can be crippling,” he wrote. “It’s the pain that my sister and I carry not knowing what truly happened to my 25-year-old nephew, who we were told hung himself in prison just 3 years ago. The pain of not knowing is truly gut-wrenching.”
He then went on to say that, “Yvette and I are offering a $100,000 dollar reward to anyone who brings forth information that leads to the conviction of the murderer of Josiah ‘Jonty’ Robinson.”
Noel-Schure posted memories of her dear friend on Instagram as well.
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“Not a final goodbye today, because as long as we keep you in our hearts, you are alive. Our JONTY. Two people’s son. A brother. A nephew. A grandson. A bonus son. A cuz. A friend. An artiste. Nothing is the same without you. Nothing,” she wrote.
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“I will love you always my beautiful bonus son. Always, you beautiful soul.”
Anyone with any information regarding Robinson’s death can call The Royal Grenada Criminal Investigation Division at: +1-473-440 3921