“Grief is not a sign of weakness”: Lupita Nyong’o Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Chadwick Boseman on the 4th Death Anniversary of the Definitive Black Panther

There are some movies that impact the audience’s lives beyond the screen, and Black Panther is one of those rare movies. It became a cultural phenomenon the day it was released in 2018 due to its way of portraying the tradition and culture of a hypothetical African nation, which is much relatable to the real world. 

The person who had to lead all these was Chadwick Boseman, who played King T’Challa in the movie. The way he portrayed the Wakandan King became a symbol of pride and strength for many. But as they say, good things don’t last forever.

Lupita Nyong’o Remembers Chadwick Boseman

The world couldn’t believe the untimely death of Chadwick Boseman on August 28, 2020. It was hard to believe that someone who was a symbol of strength was suffering in silence. It was later revealed that Boseman had been suffering from colon cancer for 4 years, and he continued to work without letting anybody know.

On the occasion of his 4th death anniversary, Boseman’s on-screen love interest from Black Panther, Lupita Nyong’o, paid tribute to him. She shared two photos on Instagram, one of Boseman alone and another with her, and wrote a heartfelt caption that says,

Grief never ends. But it changes. It is a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith. It’s the price of love. -unknown

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A post shared by Lupita Nyong'o (@lupitanyongo)

Nyong’o’s caption is enough to express the ongoing impact of Boseman’s loss. It is not about forgetting or moving on, rather it is about learning to carry his memory forward, as she added, “Remembering Chadwick Boseman. Forever.”

Along with Nyong’o, James Gunn also remembered Boseman as he shared photos of Boseman in his Black Panther suit, posing with a Rocket Raccoon prop and another with Gunn and Chris Pratt.

In an earlier interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Nyong’o talked about filming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever without Boseman. She said that although we are all mortal beings, there are some people who “possess an immortal energy,” and Boseman was one of them. And the actress stays true to her words still today.

How Chadwick Boseman’s Loss Impacted His Co-Stars and MCU

Boseman’s death was felt as a personal loss for every Marvel fan, and it can be imagined how impactful his loss might have been for his colleagues. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever‘s director Ryan Coogler admitted in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that he almost walked away from filmmaking.

I was at a point when I was like, ‘I’m walking away from this business. I didn’t know if I could make another movie period, [let alone] another Black Panther movie, because it hurt a lot.

However, Coogler mentioned that the conversations he had with Boseman towards the end of his life gave him the strength to honor his friend’s legacy. 

For Letitia Wright, it became a challenge as she was supposed to take the mantle of her on-screen brother in the movie. In an interview with People, she revealed that her preparation for the sequel was a spiritual one. Winston Duke, in his appearance on the Jemele Hill Is Unbothered podcast mentioned how Boseman’s death left a void in the entire Black Panther community.

In the whole Wakanda Forever movie, Shuri is seen avoiding the talks about T’Challa’s death as she doesn’t want to hit her weak spot. But in the final scene, she decides to move on finally by completing Ramonda’s ritual of burning her funeral outfit.

However, the most hopeful tribute was perhaps the post-credits scene where it is revealed that T’Challa and Nakia had a son who is also named T’Challa. This way, the legacy of Chadwick Boseman is preserved and carried on at the same time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever are available to stream on Disney+.