Influencer Rolling Ray Dies at 28
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NEED TO KNOW
- Social media influencer Rolling Ray has died, Zeus Network confirmed on Sept. 4
- The influencer died days before turning 29 on Friday, Sept. 5
- Ray was best known for coining the now-widely used term “purr”
Social media influencer Raymond Harper, known online as Rolling Ray, has died at 28.
Confirming Ray’s death, Zeus Network — on which Ray had appeared for several shows — posted a tribute to the late online personality.
“Gone way too soon. #RestInPeace to the BIG hearted, most Raw, & Real FRIEND & #Zeus Star #RaymondHarper aka @iamrollingray,” the network wrote. “Your Laughter, Light, & Loving Spirit will Live on FOREVER! ♾️ From #BobbyILoveYouPurrr to #TheConversation, you were Unapologetically & Authentically your TRUEST Self. From your ZEUS Fam, we Love, Thank, & will Miss you Always! 🕊️”
Ray’s mother also confirmed the news to TMZ.
Ray’s cousin, known as Coolest Kishia on Facebook, also mourned Ray’s death online, writing: “I f—— hate it here why cuz 💔💔,why u leave me like this 💔. my favorite 💔. how can I heal from this pain 💔💔💔. ray ray I love you.”
“I am sitting in my room with tears rolling down my cheeks 💔💔. I am so heart broken 💔. I don’t have words for this right know u are my favorite cousinnnnwhy u dogged me like this 💔💔,” a second post read.
RollingRay/Instagram
Ray was active on Instagram, garnering over 445,000 followers and over 7,800 followers on TikTok. Ray’s official social media accounts have not made a statement about Ray’s death.
Ray first rose to fame in 2018 after appearing on MTV’s Catfish: Trolls. Years later, Ray was featured on Divorce Court with Judge Lynn Toler, and the episode quickly became a viral sensation.
During Ray’s internet fame, the influencer notably coined the term “purr” — which is a twist on the popular slang, “period.”
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Ray used a wheelchair due to paralysis. Throughout the years, Ray had shared serious health issues, including burns from a 2021 fire, COVID and pneumonia diagnoses in 2022, as well as pneumonia and a blood infection in August 2024.
A cause of death has not been revealed.
Credit to Nypost AND Peoples
