The sad clown paradox: Why depression is becoming an ominous trend among celebrities

3D rendering of a despaired and stressed woman [Photo: Shuttertstock]

Last Saturday, Nairobians woke up to devastating news that a popular local stylist, Andre, who fitted sol generation, Fena Gitu, and many A-listers, had committed suicide by jumping off a building. "I just got a call at 6am from Shappa, and I’m thinking, oh no, not another turn-up. No texts or anything followed, so I thought I’ll just call them when I get up. I called him back at around 8am and he told me the news. I just couldn’t believe it. I think I was dead inside,” close friend and artiste Barak Jacuzzi says. Andre was a seminal part of the Nairobi creative community, the life of any party, jovial spirit, and an engine in the garments world; so dear a friend to not only artistes and entertainers, but the many souls he touched.

Tributes from Tanasha Donna, MDQ, Nviiri the Storyteller, Xenia Manasseh and many others expressed disbelief at the unfortunate occurrence. The death uncomfortably mirrored that of Papa Dennis back on February 8. Only recently, comedian George Maina Njoroge, known as Njoro, has also been a subject of discussion after his revelations of contemplating suicide over three times due to life’s financial and social pressures. With his father ailing from cancer, the struggling funnyman opened up and asked for financial assistance and counselling, even going as far as asking for anyone with any kind of work to call him. He is not alone. Kenyans also rallied behind the graphics designer, Michael Kihumba, who threatened to end his life on July 12 following a compilation of stress.