Mike Mora Dead: 'Milkshake' Singer Kelis’ Husband Dies at 37 After Battling Stage 4 Cancer

Photo Credits: @MikeMorarealty/Facebook @Kelis/Instagram

Mike Mora, photographer and husband of R&B singer Kelis, is dead at 37.

The spouse of the Grammy-nominated "Milkshake" artist succumbed to stage 4 stomach cancer.

Steve Satterhwaite of Kelis‘ management team at Red Light Management confirmed the news to "Entertainment Tonight" Monday.

“Sadly, it’s true that Mike Mora has passed away," Satterhwaite said. "We would ask all to respect Kelis and her family’s privacy as of right now. Thank you."

While tragic, Mora's death was not unexpected. In October 2021, in a series of moving Instagram posts, he shared with fans that he had been secretly battling the disease for a year, and at the time of his diagnosis that he had only 18 months to live.

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A post shared by Mike Mora (@mikemorafotos)

“I thought the whole time that I just had an ulcer," he wrote of his diagnosis and eventual hospitalization after experiencing "the worst pain" in his stomach. "With no idea what was about to come my way. Here I was, in a hospital bed, during the middle of the pandemic. All alone.”

At the time, Mora said he was sharing his diagnosis to “help those that might be experiencing something like this.”

While Kelis, 42, has yet to make a public comment on the death of her husband of eight years, some of their famous friends have made their feelings known. 

Among them was Evan Ross, son of legendary Motown diva Diana Ross, who in a now-deleted social media post shared a black-and-white portrait of Mora, with the words, "We lost a brother Yesterday. We will truly miss you Mike. Thinking of some of the great times we all spent together."

He added, “Everything I saw you do. Was built in passion. I loved connecting again with you. Hearing about your children and the life you and your wife have built. Im sending all the prayers and love to your family brother. @kelis ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️RIP @mikemorafotos.”

Mora leaves behind two children with Kelis, who shares custody of another son, Knight Jones (12), with rapper ex-husband Nas. The couple's six-year-old son Shepherd and their daughter Galilee (1).

Traci Braxton, 'Braxton Family Values' Star and Singer, Dies at 50

Photo Credit: Twitter/ @iamtracibraxton

R&B singer and reality television personality, Traci Braxton, best known musically for her singles "Last Call" and "Broken Things," is dead at 50.

Braxton's publicist, Thomasina Perkins-Washington, confirmed the star died Saturday, following a lengthy battle with esophageal cancer.

Perkins-Washington said Braxton was "surrounded by family and friends at the time of her passing," in a media release.

She also shared some words from the late artist's husband, Kevin Surratt:

"We have come to a time where we must inform the public that after a year of privately undergoing a series of treatments for Esophageal cancer, our beloved Traci Braxton has gone on to glory," read the statement.

Braxton released two solo albums. In 2014, her debut effort "Crash & Burn" reached No. 11 on Billboard‘s Top R&B Albums chart and featured the single “Last Call,” which reached No. 16 on the Adult R&B Airplay chart.

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A post shared by Toni Braxton (@tonibraxton)

Her sophomore effort "On Earth" was released in 2018. The album's lead single "Broken Things" featuring guest vocals from three of her sisters, peaked at No. 24. on the R&B chart.

While Braxton may have only enjoyed moderate success as a solo artist, her collaboration with her four sisters on WeTV's "Braxton Family Values," raised her profile significantly. Appearing alongside Grammy winner Toni, Traci, Tamar, Trina and Towanda, for seven seasons on the show chronicling the everyday ups-and-downs of the musical family — she became a fan favorite. That success led to her hosting her own radio show and a burgeoning acting career.

"Needless to say, she was a bright light, a wonderful daughter, an amazing sister, a loving mother, wife, grandmother and a respected performer. We will miss her dearly," the "Un-Break My Heart" wrote.

Her son, Kevin Surratt Jr., also posted a tribute.

"I love my mother forever and this hurts so much but I'm at peace knowing she's not in pain anymore," read his post on Instagram.

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Former 'Empire' Star, Jussie Smollett, Sentenced to 150 days in Jail for Lying to Police in Hate Crime Hoax

Cook County Sheriff's Office

More than four years after Jussie Smollett, 39, faked a racist and homophobic attack against himself that polarized the nation, the former "Empire" actor and R&B singer has been sentenced for his crimes.

Thursday, Cook County Judge James Linn called Smollett, arrogant and selfish in a nearly 30-minute speech before sentencing him to five months in jail for lying to Chicago police.

"There's a side of you that has this arrogance, and selfishness and narcissism that's just disgraceful," Linn said. "You're not a victim of a racial hate crime, you're not a victim of a homophobic hate crime. You're just a charlatan pretending to be a victim of a hate crime, and that's shameful."

In addition to the jail time, which was scheduled to begin immediately after sentencing, Smollet was given 30 months of felony probation and ordered to pay $120,106 in restitution to the city of Chicago. He also was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine for making false reports to police that he was the victim of a hate crime.

Following the judgment, a visibly agitated Smollet, removed the mask he had been wearing throughout the proceeding and declared his innocence.

Jussie Smollett after the sentencing: “I am not suicidal. If anything happens to me when I go in there, you must all know that.” pic.twitter.com/xe2wYpQJ4O

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) March 11, 2022

"If I did this, then it means that I stuck my fist in the fears of Black Americans in this country for over 400 years and the fears of the LGBT community. Your honor, I respect you and I respect the jury, but I did not do this," he pleaded to Linn, before turning to the court. "And I am not suicidal. And if anything happens to me when I go in there, I did not do it to myself. And you must all know that."

The Black and gay actor reported to police in January 2019 that two men wearing ski masks beat him, put a noose around his neck and hurled racial and homophobic slurs at him on a dark Chicago Street before he managed to fight them off. Smollett's attack made international headlines, sparked a debate on racism that reached the White House and was the catalyst for a manhunt in Chicago that cost the city $130,000.

His story began to unravel, however, when brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, revealed to investigators that Smollett paid them $3,500 to carry out the attack, alleging that he was upset that a threatening letter sent to the "Empire" studio had not been taken more seriously.

Both brothers testified in his trial in December 2021. Olabinjo Osundairo said Smollett told him that he'd received hate mail at the TV studio in Chicago "and he had this crazy idea of having two MAGA supporters attack him," a reference to then-President Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again." Osundairo believed the plan was to publicize the attack on social media, not to involve police, he said.

The jury convicted him on five counts of disorderly conduct — for each separate time he was charged with lying to police in the days after the alleged attack.

As he was being led from the courtroom and taken into custody, Smollett proclaimed his innocence again and raised a fist in the air.