Beloved comedian Kenny DeForest's family gathered around him to listen to his favorite songs and childhood stories before taking him off life support.
“Kenny's final moments include some of his favorite songs, stories from his youth, and memories of his expansive positivity and zest for life,” friend and fellow comedian Ryan Beck told Deadline.
DeForest, 37, died Wednesday evening, less than a week after a horror e-bike crash near Brooklyn's Prospect Park — at the intersection of Rogers Avenue and Sterling Place.
The crash was initially believed to have involved another vehicle, but DeForest's family and friends now say no one else was involved.
Beck explained, “We received more information today from an EMS report. Kenny was on an e-bike and crashed.
Kenny DeForest, 37, died Wednesday evening, less than a week after a horror e-bike accident
The fatal crash occurred on December 8 at the intersection of Rogers Avenue and Sterling Place in Brooklyn
“I have spoken to cruisers in the area today and am still looking for more information.
“There is no police report because it was not a hit and run as previously understood.”
Given the lack of an official report, it is not clear how or why DeForest's e-bike crashed, throwing him off the track and fatally injuring him.
DeForest's loved ones, desperate for answers, have put up posters in the area asking for information about the crash.
The comic reportedly underwent surgery to remove part of his skull and relieve pressure from a brain bleed at Kings County Hospital before being removed from life support.
The Missouri native was best known for his appearances on the late night comedy circuit, including stand-up bits on Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Late Late Show with James Corden.
He had recently advertised a series of shows in his home state on his Facebook page.
In 2015, he was named one of Comedy Central's “Funniest People to Watch.” That same year, Brooklyn Magazine named him one of the 50 funniest people in Brooklyn.
The Missouri native was best known for his appearances on the late night comedy circuit, including stand-up bits on Late Night with Seth Meyers
DeForest also appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden
“Kenny DeForest was a widely beloved comedian who died tragically and far too young. His relaxed, confident performance always stood out,” read a moving tribute on Late Night with Seth Meyers' official X page.
“As you can tell from his late night debut on LNSM, he wasn't afraid to tackle controversial topics, but never just be edgy – always in service of an original angle and a great joke. It's a shame we don't get to see what he comes up with next.'
DeForest's friend Beck announced his death via a GoFundMe for his family, which has now raised more than $170,000.
Among those who donated are movie star Kristen Bell, as well as Saturday Night Live alum Sasheer Zamata and comedian Tim Dillon.
Adam Conover, creator of Adam Ruins Everything, paid tribute to DeForest, writing on Instagram that the comedian was “one of the funniest and most beloved comics we knew.”
Conover directed his followers to check out DeForest's recent comedy special, titled You Don't Know Who I Am?, which dropped on YouTube in September.
In a 2015 interview, DeForest explained that he preferred to come up with jokes while on stages, rather than writing them himself due to the pressure of a live audience.
'I write much better when there is an audience in front of me. I like having the extra pressure to find the funny. That being said, I write things down on paper to get them out of my head and into writing,” the comedian said.
During the same interview, DeForest lamented the dangers of writing jokes for social media.
'Jokes online lack tone and context. It is difficult to provide nuance in writing. Jokes that work online are usually simple. Usually it's the tweets that I almost don't tweet because they're so embarrassingly stupid that get the most love,” he said.
DeForest was later asked, “What's on your horizon?” In typical comic fashion, he replied, “Dead. Same for you.'