THE Beyonce fan who went viral for her reaction to the singer’s 2018 Coachella set has died aged 25.
Sydney Hardeman’s mother has revealed that she died by suicide last weekend.
She had been struggling with her mental health in recent months, Jamie Hardeman told TMZ.
The 25-year-old from Dallas, Texas, had been offered counceling by her family, but she reportedly canceled the appointments.
She was due to get married in April 2026.
“You guys are young, and you are excited, you guys haven’t gotten to the good part,” Jamie said in a message to fellow Beyonce fans.
“Lean on your village, Sydney had a huge village …sometimes you just need to be vulnerable to the people around you so they can help you.
“Parents are here to support you. It’s OK to be down, it’s normal, you haven’t gotten to the good part yet. Please keep going.”
Hardeman went viral in 2019 after the release of Beyonce’s Netflix documentary ‘Beyoncé: Homecoming’.
The show documented the singer’s iconic set at the Californian music festival and it was the fan’s wide-eyed reaction that quickly became a meme among the Beyhive.
“They got me in the documentary making that face,” Sydney wrote on social media after seeing herself on the big screen.
In the footage, she was stood in awe as the award-winning singer took to the stage.
Her mouth was wide open and she had hand on her chest in shock which quickly became a relatable moment for fans.
“Accurate representation when you’re in the presence of Beyonce,” one wrote on social media, sharing a picture of the meme.
She even scooped an award in her senior year of high school after performing a dance routine to the Crazy In Love singer’s music.
In an interview with Buzzfeed, Sydney shared how she became an instant fan of the singer from the age of 13.
“I was expecting to see myself because I remember the cameraman being in my face the whole time, but I was so happy to be shown because it means Beyoncé knows my face exists,” Sydney said of the viral moment.
After becoming internet famous, Sydney went to college where she played sport and then got a job as a flight instructor.
But her mother shared how her mood had changed following the death of her grandfather.
Her grief-stricken family say they are still looking for answers about what led to her death.
In a final note to fans, Jamie told them: “Sydney never meant to leave you.
“She loved all of you. In her name, make sure you guys are OK and find the support when you need it.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up by fans in honor of Sydney’s memory.
“Donations will go towards minority scholarships and for Sydney’s salvation foundation that is currently in the works to support mental health initiatives and suicide prevention of people of all ages and walks of life and that her legacy lives on forever,” it states.
At the time of writing it has raised over $10,000
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.
