LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – When indications that Sahara Davenport (Antoine Ashley) had may died first surfaced online  the night of October 1, 2012, fans were left without words. Antoine Ashley as Sahara Davenport had appeared on network television soap operas, in music videos, in Billboard hit songs, and of course, on RuPaul’s Drag Race. And yet, while it remains today still unclear what day that Sahara Davenport passed, RuPaul called Sahara simply “immortal”.

The first indications of something wrong came on September 30. Partner Manila Luzon that day simply tweeted “I love him so much.” One day passed, and on the evening October 1 details began to surface online. As reported on LALATE, Drag U. Drag Race judge Michelle Visage first gave suggestions that something might be wrong telling fans “God please no” that evening.

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Hours later, Visage’s fears were confirmed simply stating “it’s true”. The biggest indicator came moments later when the production company behind RuPaul’s shows, World of World, wrote three words on Twitter. “RIP Shara Davenport.”

By morning, RuPaul explained the news was shocking and hard to comprehend. RuPaul told news that he was “Shocked & heartbroken over @SaharaDavenport. Never occurred to me that we’d ever lose one of my girls. I see them as immortal”.

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Logo thereafter issued a news statement honoring Sahara who appeared on Drag Race’s season 2 and found happiness with Manila (aka Karl Westerberg), a seasons three runner up. “Logo is profoundly saddened by the passing of Antoine Ashley who fans around the world knew and loved as Sahara Davenport. He was an amazing artist and entertainer who’ll be deeply missed by his Logo family. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family, especially his boyfriend Karl, in their time of need.”

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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Sahara Davenport (Antoine Ashley) is dead at 27, claims reports. Sahara Davenport’s death is being reporting by Michelle Visage, the Houston Chronicle, and production company World of Wonder. Davenport was first reported to have died by Visage overnight on October 1, 2012. But a tweet by partner Manila Luzon suggests that Davenport may have died in September 2012.

On September 30, Luzon tweeted “I love him so much.” Luzon was a contestant on Season 3 of RuPaul’s Drag Race and a drag professor on RuPaul’s Drag U. Drag Race judge Michelle Visage told news last night “praying it’s a rumor.” Moments later, Visage wrote “God, please no.” Visage last added “It’s true and I have no words. Have to sign off for now kids, can’t handle this.” Visage retweeted then the September tweet by Luzon adding “I’m crying with you”.

Production company World of Wonder delivers RuPaul’s Drag Race, Drag U, and other RuPaul projects to the Logo network. Last night, WOW tweeted news at the same time as Visage “RIP Sahara Davenport”, wrote WOW.

Funeral arrangements have not been announced to news. Send your love.

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