Image copyright Getty Images
Lady Gaga has paid tribute to model Rick Genest, who has died at the age of 32.
Rick was known as Zombie Boy, due to bone and organ tattoos across his body, including skull features on his face.
He was found dead at his home in Montreal, Canada and is believed to have killed himself, reports say.
Rick appeared in Gaga's Born This Way video in 2011 and the singer says the loss is "beyond devastating."
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Lady Gaga painted her face like Rick's in her Born This Way video
"We have to work harder to change the culture, bring mental health to the forefront and erase the stigma that we can't talk about it," she wrote on Twitter.
"If you are suffering, call a friend or family today. We must save each other."
She followed this by sharing a photo of herself and Rick - and urging fans who might be struggling with their mental health to "reach out".
Skip Twitter post by @ladygaga Science tells us that it takes 21 days to form a habit, if you are suffering from Mental Health issue I beckon for today to be your first day or a continuation of the work you’ve been doing. Reach out if you’re in pain, and if you know someone who is, reach out to them too. pic.twitter.com/4pVR5xyoH6 — Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) August 3, 2018 Report
Rick modelled for French fashion designer Thierry Mugler, appeared in Vogue Japan and was once the face of Jay-Z's Rocawear fashion label.
He was 32 at the time of his death. His body was found six days before his 33rd birthday.
Rick's management posted a tribute on Facebook, saying they were "shocked and pained" by his death.
"Rico was loved by all those who had the chance to meet him and know him," said the post.
"We received the unfortunate news at the beginning of the afternoon and members of the team have come to support his family and relatives in this dark and difficult moment.
"We want to present our deepest condolences... Thank you zb for these beautiful moments in your company and for your radiant smile."
If you are in the UK, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 if you are struggling with mental health issues.
You can also get help at the BBC Advice pages.
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Rick Genest, the heavily tattooed model known as Zombie Boy, has died aged just 32.
He was known for his head-to-toe tattoos and starred alongside Lady Gaga in her Born This Way music video in 2011.
Zombie Boy's body was found in his apartment in the Plateau-Mont-Royal neighbourhood in Montreal, Canada, on Wednesday.
Gaga has said the death is "beyond devastating" and revealed he had taken his own life.
The Canadian model, who would have celebrated his 33rd birthday on August 7, got his first tattoo when he was 16 and by the time he was 19, had covered his entire body in ink.
After being spotted by Gaga's stylist, he ended up featuring in the singer's video, and from there his fame skyrocketed.
He appeared in a number of modelling campaigns for high-end fashion brands as well as magazines such as GQ and Vogue.
(Image: Getty)
(Image: FilmMagic)
He also had bit parts in a number of movies and TV series, including 2013 film 47 Ronin and more recently Silent Witness.
On Thursday Gaga tweeted to speak of her heartbreak and call for improved awareness around mental health.
She said: "The suicide of friend Rick Genest, Zombie Boy is beyond devastating. We have to work harder to change the culture, bring Mental Health to the forefront and erase the stigma that we can't talk about it."
Gaga, 32, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, added: "If you are suffering, call a friend or family today. We must save each other."
(Image: REUTERS)
Genest’s model management company, Dulcedo, said they were “shocked and pained by this tragedy”.
At the age of 15, Rick discovered he had a brain tumour and was told he could die or be left disfigured.
"I guess this spiralled me into becoming obsessed with the morbid and macabre," he told the Mirror in late 2016.
"As it happened, the operation to remove the tumour went without a hitch, but since then, I’ve known life was too short to not fulfil my dreams of tattoos and body modifications."
He had his very first tattoo, a skull and crossbones on his shoulder, shortly after his operation.
The model said his nickname, Zombie, was given to him by his pals.
"I was then nicknamed Zombie by my friends. When you’re messing around on the streets and getting in trouble, you have a nickname to cover yourself.
"Zombie came from my love of punk and skulls."
(Image: CPG Photography Ltd/Rex Shutterstock)
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Zombie Boy before the tattoos: How beating a brain tumour sparked his 'living skeleton' transformation before stardom
He holds the Guinness World Record for his 176 insect tattoos and another for most bone tattoos.
Talking about his ink obsession, he added to the Mirror: "I became addicted to tattoos and now have a complete body suit (minus by privates) and a full facial tattoo of a skeleton-style face and zombie-like brain.
"It suits me and my journey perfectly."
Previously speaking about working with Lady Gaga, he said: "She is really fun and really professional. She gave me a big hug when I met her and she laughed at my jokes.
"A lot of people ask me about when I got my first tattoo but she asked me: 'At what age did you first think about getting your first tattoo?'.
"My response was when I was about five or six years old. I liked that question."
Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org
CANADIAN model Rick Genest, known as Zombie Boy, has died at the age 32 in an apparent suicide.
The heavily-tattooed star, who appeared in Lady Gaga's 2011 music video Born This Way, was found in his apartment in Montreal, Canada, on Wednesday.
PA:Press Association 11 Canadian model Rick Genest, known as Zombie Boy, has died aged 32 in an apparent suicide
Gaga revealed her friend had take his own life in poignant tribute on Twitter.
His death was confirmed on Facebook last night by his agency Dulcedo Management, who paid tribute to the "icon of the artistic scene".
It said: "The whole dulcedo family is shocked and pained by this tragedy. Zombie Boy, Rico, was loved by all those who had the chance to meet him and know him.
"Icon of the artistic scene and the fashion world, this innovator, against popular culture, has been able to charm all hearts.
The suicide of friend Rick Genest, Zombie Boy is beyond devastating. We have to work harder to change the culture, bring Mental Health to the forefront and erase the stigma that we can’t talk about it. If you are suffering, call a friend or family today. We must save each other. pic.twitter.com/THz6x5JlpB — Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) August 3, 2018
Science tells us that it takes 21 days to form a habit, if you are suffering from Mental Health issue I beckon for today to be your first day or a continuation of the work you’ve been doing. Reach out if you’re in pain, and if you know someone who is, reach out to them too. pic.twitter.com/4pVR5xyoH6 — Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) August 3, 2018
"We received the unfortunate news at the beginning of the afternoon and members of the team have come to support his family and relatives in this dark and difficult moment.
"We want to present our deepest condolences and the legend will survive human. Thank you zb for these beautiful moments in your company and for your radiant smile."
Lady Gaga urged those with mental health issues to seek help.
Writing on Twitter, she said: "The suicide of friend Rick Genest, Zombie Boy is beyond devastating.
"We have to work harder to change the culture, bring Mental Health to the forefront and erase the stigma that we can’t talk about it.
Tragic Zombie Boy appears in Lady Gaga's Born This Way music video
Rex Features 11 The model starred alongside Lady Gaga in her 2011 music video Born This Way
Rex Features 11 Rick's management agency confirmed his death on Facebook
"If you are suffering, call a friend or family today. We must save each other."
Sharing a set of snaps of the pair together, she continued: "Science tells us that it takes 21 days to form a habit, if you are suffering from Mental Health issue I beckon for today to be your first day or a continuation of the work you’ve been doing.
"Reach out if you’re in pain, and if you know someone who is, reach out to them too."
The model developed his love of the macabre after being diagnosed with a brain tumour at 15 and told he was unlikely to survive surgery.
11 Lady Gaga also paid tribute to her pal as she urged those with mental health issues to seek help
11 Writing on Twitter, Gaga said: 'The suicide of friend Rick Genest, Zombie Boy is beyond devastating'
Rex Features 11 Rick had his first tattoo aged 15 after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour and told he wasn't expected to live
Rex Features 11 He got spotted by Lady Gaga's stylist who told him to go to Paris to become a model
But he did, and speaking to the Sun back in 2016, he said: “Even the doctors told me I got lucky.
“I blurred the lines between life and death and I’m still doing that now. My friends called me Zombie because of my past.”
A year later he began living on the streets, washing cars to get by and had his first tattoo - a skull and crossbones on his arm.
As his inkings grew so did his fame and he started working in freak shows - eating worms and pig intestines to go with his rotting corpse look.
Thierry Mugler 11 The model was so addicted to tattoos that almost his entire body, excluding his private parts, were inked as well as a full facial tattoo of a skeleton and a zombie brain on his head
Lady Gaga performs Joanne in memory of her late Aunt at the 60th Grammy awards in New York
Rex Features 11 He went on to become the face of Jay Z’s Rocawear label
Rex Features 11 Rick's tattoos covered his entire body - from head to toe, excluding his privates
Then in 2011 he caught the eye of Lady Gaga’s stylist, who got him to model in Paris, and he later starred in her music video before becoming the face of Jay Z’s Rocawear label.
He previously spoke about working with Lady Gaga, described her as "really fun and really professional".
Rick said: "She gave me a big hug when I met her and she laughed at my jokes.
Getty - Contributor 11 Lady Gaga led tributes to tragic Zombie Boy
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"A lot of people ask me about when I got my first tattoo but she asked me: 'At what age did you first think about getting your first tattoo?'.
"My response was when I was about five or six years old. I liked that question."
The model was so addicted to tattoos that almost his entire body, excluding his private parts, were inked as well as a full facial tattoo of a skeleton and a zombie brain on his head.
His 176 insect tattoos earned him a Guinness World Record.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans (free) on 116 123.
Rick 'Zombie Boy' Genest, model favorit Lady Gaga, bunuh diri. (Foto: instagram/@zombieboyofficial) Rick 'Zombie Boy' Genest, model favorit Lady Gaga, bunuh diri. (Foto: instagram/@zombieboyofficial)
The suicide of friend Rick Genest, Zombie Boy is beyond devastating. We have to work harder to change the culture, bring Mental Health to the forefront and erase the stigma that we can't talk about it. If you are suffering, call a friend or family today. We must save each other. pic.twitter.com/THz6x5JlpB
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) August 3, 2018
- Kabar duka datang dari industri fashion. Rick 'Zombie Boy' Genest, model yang pernah muncul di video klip 'Born This Way' Lady Gaga meninggal dunia karena bunuh diri.Rick yang terkenal berkat tato yang menghiasi sekujur tubuhnya itu ditemukan tak bernyawa di rumahnya di Montreal, Kanada, Rabu (1/8/2018). Menurut iHeartRadio, seperti dilansir dari People, bunuh diri menjadi penyebab kematian pria 32 tahun itu.Kepergian sang Zombie Boy rupanya meninggalkan duka yang mendalam bagi Lady Gaga. Pelantun 'Million Reasons' itu pun sempat meluapkan rasa dukanya lewat cuitan di Twitter. "Kematian Rick Genest, Zombie Boy, akibat bunuh diri sungguh menyedihkan," kata penyanyi berjulukan Mother Monster itu.Lady Gaga pun mengajak para pengikutnya untuk lebih peka lagi terhadap masalah kesehatan mental dengan menghapus stigma bahwa isu tersebut tabu untuk dibicarakan. "Jika kamu merasa tertekan, telepon seorang teman atau anggota keluarga sekarang juga. Kita harus saling menjaga," tambah penyanyi 32 tahun itu.Dijuluki Zombie Boy, Rick mulai merebut perhatian publik setelah tampil dengan tubuhnya yang penuh tato bergambar tengkorak dan otak, dari ujung kepala hingga kaki. Penampilan uniknya lantas membuahkan rekor Guinness World Record untuk tato serangga terbanyak (176 gambar) dan tato tulang manusia terbanyak (139 terbanyak).Sang Zombie Boy juga mendapat tawaran untuk tampil di beberapa fashion show di Paris dan Milan. Sosoknya semakin populer setelah muncul di video klip Lady Gaga yang berjudul 'Born This Way' 2011 silam.Kematian Rick menambah daftar deretan figur publik yang meninggal dunia karena bunuh diri dalam kurun tiga bulan terakhir. Mereka di antaranya desainer Kate Spade dan koki ternama Anthony Bourdain.
