John Amos wanted the announcement of his d3ath delayed because he believed his daughter would turn his passing into a “circus,” according to the late actor’s longtime publicist
Amos’ d3ath was revealed by his son, Kelly Christopher Amos, aka K.C., in an Instagram post on Tuesday, more than 40 days after the “Roots” star passed away at the age of 84 from congestive heart failure. In the hours following the announcement, Amos’ daughter, Shannon, shared her own Instagram post, saying she found out about her father’s d3ath through the media reports.
Amos’ goddaughter, Amy Gaudy, then posted a lengthy statement via Facebook on behalf of several members of the “Good Times” actor’s family, including Shannon, accusing the star’s publicist, Belinda Foster, and KC of isolating them from Amos over the past year. She also suggested Foster and KC “may have taken advantage of [Amos’] vulnerability as an elder.”
On Thursday, Foster refuted all the accusations made against her by Gaudy, Shannon and other family members in a statement first provided to People and confirmed by The Post.
“I represented John Amos for over 30 years as his publicist of record. The media knows this along with John’s agencies of record,” Foster said.
“Over the years we grew close to one another to the point of a familial relationship. In the last few years, he often referred to me as his ‘daughter.’ This was not a fraud by John, K.C., or myself. He was like a father to me. I deeply mourn his passing.”
Amos had, by his own account, an “acrimonious” relationship with his daughter and denied Shannon’s allegation that K.C. committed elder abuse against him.
Foster reiterated Amos’ past remarks about his daughter in her statement.
“Shannon’s claims that John was abused are false,” Foster insisted. “K.C. and I and numerous others cared for him. On several occasions when Shannon claimed that he was abused, law enforcement authorities sat with John and confirmed his well being.”
In response to Gaudy and Shannon’s shock that they were not notified of Amos’ death, Foster said that K.C. was not legally allowed to contact his sister.
“At the time of John’s passing, K.C. was under a strict no-contact order from the Superior Court of New Jersey based on the Complaint that his sister Shannon brought against him in 2023,” Foster explained.
“As a condition of his Pretrial Release, K.C. is precluded from making any contact with Shannon directly or indirectly by phone, social media, or any method of communication.”
Foster continued, “At the time of his death, John was concerned that Shannon might turn his d3ath and interment into a circus as she had done with other aspects of his life.”
“It was John who requested the delay in announcing his death to Shannon and the rest of the world.”
Foster went on to say that she feels “sorry that Shannon has chosen this path, but consistent with John’s approach, I will respond to her with firmness but compassion.”
“John loved Shannon but she was a difficult child to the point that John had to order that an unauthorized ‘GoFundMe’ page that she put up in June 2023 be shut down.”
Follow Us on Facebook – @LadunLiadi; Instagram – @LadunLiadi; Twitter – @LadunLiadi; Youtube – @LadunLiadiTV for updates
