Michael Archer II, 27, has spoken publicly for the first time following the death of his father, Grammy-winning soul singer D’Angelo, who passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at the age of 51 after battling pancreatic cancer.
The loss comes just seven months after Michael also lost his mother, Angie Stone, in a car crash, compounding an already heartbreaking year for the young man.
“I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers during these very difficult times, as it has been a profoundly challenging and sorrowful year for me,” Michael Archer II said in a statement. “I ask that you continue to keep me in your thoughts, as it will not be easy, but one lesson both of my parents instilled in me was to be strong—and I intend to do just that.”
D’Angelo, born Michael Eugene Archer, was widely celebrated for his contributions to soul and R&B, leaving behind a legacy of music that continues to resonate with fans around the world.
A representative for the D’Angelo Estate said, “The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life… After a prolonged and courageous battle with cancer, we are heartbroken to announce that Michael D’Angelo Archer, known to fans worldwide as D’Angelo, has been called home, departing this life today, October 14, 2025.”
The statement continued: “While we are saddened that he leaves only cherished memories with his family, we are eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind. We ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time, but we invite you to join us in mourning his passing while also celebrating the gift of song he has shared with the world.”
A source previously confirmed D’Angelo’s death, revealing that “he was in hospice for two weeks but had been in the hospital for months.”
His passing follows a particularly difficult year for his family, coming just months after the death of his mother, singer Angie Stone. Stone died in a car crash in March while traveling from a performance in Mobile, Alabama, to Atlanta. According to reports, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van in which Stone and several others were riding went out of control after the driver, Leethel Carter, allegedly lost control of the vehicle in Montgomery County, Alabama.