NYC drag legend Sweetie, RIP

NYC drag legend Sweetie has passed away after a battle with cancer, Paper Mag reports. Sweetie, who was born Daniel Booth, was 51.

Sweetie spoke to Paper last year about her illness:

I want to give some kind of shout out to my team at Memorial Sloan Kettering, which is where I go to my treatment. I could never ask for better care. They thought I was going to be around for three and a half months and here it is, two and a half years. That speaks volumes to the kind of care I’ve gotten, and the fact that I’m doing well and am out there performing and doing what I love is really cool.

Tributes for Sweetie have poured in.

Justin Vivian Bond posted an Instagram and wrote, “The Goddess has taken her place in Heaven. I’ve probably cheered more, cried more, and applauded harder for Sweetie’s late night lip syncing than for any other entertainer ever. Although her death was not unexpected it comes as another reminder of how precious our time together on the planet is. So grateful to @danielnardicioproductions for the chance to celebrate her at her 50th birthday in January and to have worked, dished, and shared many a cocktail with this fabulous down to earth lady. Goddess Bless. Rest in Power Sweetie. Love you.”

Xavier Smith posted on Facebook: “Such a brilliant performer and warm person. I can’t believe it. I loved watching her perform so much, I gave her a compilation of songs I thought she would slay on. One of them, she told me, got her all the way to the Sydney Opera House. Big kiss, you big inspiration, you.”

Shane Tenczar posted: “The drag world lost a goddess today! I’m so sad to hear about the passing of Sweetie Nyc! She was an LEGEND who, from the second I met her, was so sweet and inspiring to me. I am so lucky the last time I saw her she was at my show and gave me such lovely praise for it after! My heart goes out to her friends and family!”

NewNowNext points out that there will be a memorial held for Sweetie at Pangea in the East Village on Sunday (4/2) from 2 to 4 PM.

Here are some more tributes:

https://twitter.com/BradLoekle/status/846866192711237632