News broke early Wednesday that pregnant reality star and producer Lyric McHenry had been found dead on Tuesday on a Bronx sidewalk. Police have released some details, but the cause of death remains a mystery as the investigation continues.
McHenry’s friend and Rich Kids of Beverly Hills star, Dorothy Wang, took to Twitter on Wednesday to share her condolences. “Rest In Peace Lyric McHenry,” she wrote. “You were an angel amongst us.”
McHenry accomplished many things that most 26 year olds can only dream of thanks to her ambition and her supportive group of friends and family by her side.
Here are five things to know about the late McHenry.
Her father, Doug McHenry, was a director and producer.
McHenry’s dad produced notable films like New Jack City, A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, and the entire House Party series. He also directed and produced 1994’s Jason’s Lyric.
McHenry attended Stanford University.
The Stanford grad was a Ron Brown Scholar, who founded the Young Democrats Club in her junior year as a way to get students politically involved. According to the Ron Brown Scholar Program website, McHenry hoped to get young people involved in their communities “through her own interest and pursuit of social justice.”
She was a freelance writer and producer.
McHenry was following in her dad’s footsteps having worked as a producer on best friend EJ Johnson‘s E! reality series, EJNYC, sometimes making appearances. She later worked at Complex Networks as an associate producer and Refinery29 as a video intern, where she produced and appeared in videos aimed at sparking dialogue about racial and social awareness.
McHenry was a close friend of EJ Johnson.
McHenry and Johnson, the son of former NBA star Magic Johnson, were childhood friends who remained close as they got older. In an August birthday post, Johnson wished McHenry a happy birthday, writing, “Happy birthday to my best friend who has strutted with my in princess gowns since day 1. Words cannot express how much I love and appreciate you in my life. Your constant love, respect, and companionship gives me the confidence to live my truth every single day and I am so blessed that even as baby divas we recognized the greatness in each other. I love you.”
She volunteered on Barack Obama’s campaign at 15.
At only 15 years old, McHenry volunteered on Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. Last year, she captioned a throwback photo with Michelle Obama, “Working for this campaign made my awkward stage at 15 so much doper. Thank you to the Obamas for inspiring us, leading with love and intellect, bringing art and artists to the White House, and also Sasha and Malia.”
