Hip-hop journalist turned television writer Jas “JasFly” Waters died earlier this week, according to USA Today.
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner confirmed that Waters, who was a writer on NBC’s This Is Us and Showtime’s Kidding, died on Tuesday by suicide. She was 39.
Waters’ This Is Us writing colleagues shared their grief on Twitter: “In our time together, Jas left her mark on us and ALL over the show. She was a brilliant storyteller and a force of nature.“
The entire #ThisIsUs family was devastated to learn of Jas Waters passing. In our time together, Jas left her mark on us and ALL over the show. She was a brilliant storyteller and a force of nature. We send our deepest sympathies to her loved ones. She was one of us. RIP @JasFly. pic.twitter.com/cmrh2OO8of
— ThisIsUsWriters (@ThisIsUsWriters) June 10, 2020
The creator of This Is Us, Dan Fogelman, and star Chrissy Metz also posted their condolences on Twitter.
This news took my breath away. Jas was absolutely brilliant and had so many stories still to tell. She made an indelible mark on our show and my heart breaks for her loved ones. RIP @JasFly https://t.co/fAZlIjhsIH
— Dan Fogelman (@Dan_Fogelman) June 10, 2020
We were graced with @JasFly on the show as a fantastic writer but to know her and her beautiful spirit was to love her. I am praying for your beautiful transition, Jas. May it be full of love, light and peace. Thank you for the time we shared, your fearlessness and inspiration ❤️
— Chrissy Metz (@ChrissyMetz) June 11, 2020
Waters had previously written for VIBE magazine before making her way to television writing. Waters’ IMDB profile lists that she had also written episodes for Comedy Central’s Hood Adjacent and VH1’s The Breaks. The editor and writer also worked on the productions for films such as Spiderman, Save The Last Dance, and What Men Want.