On Monday evening, news outlets reported the death of 51-year-old Ineitha Lynnette Hardaway, also known as “Diamond.”

Hardaway and her sister, Herneitha Rochelle “Silk” Richardson, became popular across conservative news and social media as outspoken and boisterous Black women supporters of former President Donald Trump. Diamond and Silk have also regularly spread misinformation about COVID-19. An official cause of death has not yet been reported.

Outspoken Trump supporters and conservative talking heads

Hardaway and Richardson became famous during the 2016 presidential campaign after the sisters publicly announced they were dropping their affiliation with the Democratic Party to support Trump’s presidential campaign. The duo grew an immense following on social media as they started focusing their content on boisterous support for Trump and pushing far-right talking points. Their presence as Black women Trump supporters landed them campaign appearances as well as appearances on Fox News, eventually landing a show on the network’s online platform. The Diamond and Silk brand was also quickly monetized through tickets to speaking appearances, drinking glasses and other merchandise, and even downloads of their music single, “Trump’s Yo President.” The sisters continued to be outspoken supporters of the former president and conservative darlings, appearing on various far-right platforms.

Trump shares his condolences for “our beautiful Diamond”

Trump announced Hardaway’s death on his Truth Social account Monday, declaring that “our beautiful Diamond, of Diamond and Silk, has just passed away at her home” in North Carolina. Trump added that “Diamond’s death was totally unexpected,” speculating that “probably her big and precious HEART just plain gave out.”

Some sources, including journalist Marc Lamont Hill, report that Hardaway had been hospitalized after contracting COVID-19 around Thanksgiving.

Twitter reactions to Diamond's death are polarized

Twitter reactions to Hardaway’s passing were widespread and very polarized. Conservatives generally lauded Hardaway while remaining vague or silent concerning the circumstances of her death. Conservative actor and comedian Terrence K. Williams posted, “We will miss you and most definitely will never forget you.”

 

Meanwhile, more liberal posters and much of Black Twitter were significantly more savage in their posts.

Several Twitter users reshared a 2020 profile of Diamond and Silk by comedian Rob Haze, documenting the sisters’ history and their eventual firing from Fox News for touting conspiracy theories surrounding COVID-19.

 

Others criticized Richardson for setting up a fund to raise money in the name of her just-deceased sister.

 

As details surrounding Hardaway’s death emerge and conspiracy theories surrounding COVID-19 continue to increase online, expect more heated discussion of Hardaway and her legacy in the coming days.

Diamond And SilkDonald trump