Canadian model from Montreal and artist Rick Genest, famously known as Zombie Boy, has died at the age of 32. The model was found dead in his home on Wednesday, according to Radio Canada. Singer and Rick’s friend Lady Gaga tweeted on Thursday that the news is ‘beyond devastating’. Rick garnered public attention after tattooing his body from head to toe. He holds a Guinness World Record for most insect tattoos (176) and another for most human bone tattoos (139). Police are classifying his death as a suicide.

Rick was struggling with mental health problems and took his own life on Wednesday in Montreal’s Plateau-Mont Royal borough at around 5 pm. His body-art attracted fashion designers and he modelled at high-end shows in Paris and Berlin. In 2011, he also appeared in Lady Gaga’s music video for the song Born This Way. After being featured in the Grammy winner’s music video, he quickly found work and modelled for magazines such as GQ, Vanity Fair and Vogue Hommes.

Lady Gaga’s Tweet on Rick Genest’s Death

She wrote: “We have to work harder to change the culture, bring Mental Health to the forefront and erase the stigma that we can’t talk about it. If you are suffering, call a friend or family today. We must save each other.” In a following tweet, The Million Reasons singer wrote: “Science tells us that it takes 21 days to form a habit, if you are suffering from Mental Health issue I beckon for today to be your first day or a continuation of the work you’ve been doing.”

Rick’s agency Dulcado Management also wrote a Facebook post on Thursday and said they were ‘shocked and saddened by this tragedy.’ The post paid tribute to him by writing and called him an ‘icon of the artistic scene’ who ‘charmed everybody’s heart’. The Canadian artist would have celebrated his 33rd birthday on August 7. Before his death, Rick was involved with the Home Depot Canada Foundation to bring awareness to youth homelessness.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 03, 2018 09:22 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).