Allen Payne Reprises New Jack City Role a Year after False Claims about His Death
The internet buzzed when claims began to circulate that Allen Payne was dead. Fans and social media users began to react after rumors that a YouTube account reported that the "Jason's Lyric" actor had died. The actor's new project is proof that he is very much alive.
Payne was born on July 7, 1968, in Harlem, New York, to Barbara Reeves and Allen Roberts. The actor had a few movies under his belt, such as "New Jack City" in 1991, "The Perfect Strom" in 2000, and "Vampire in Brooklyn" in 1995. However, he is most commonly known for his role in "Jason's Lyric."
The New York native starred alongside Jada Pinkett-Smith in the 1994 film directed by Doug McHenry. The film was nominated for a Chicago Film Critics Association Award in 1995 for Most Promising Actress.
Allen Payne from "30 Years To Life" at Sundance 2001 Portraits session in Park City, Utah on January 25, 2001 | Photo: Getty Images
Payne's first role on TV was on "The Cosby Show," he played Lance Rodman for ten episodes and appeared in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "CSI: NY," and Tyler Perry's "House of Payne." However, his name began circulating on the internet when rumors began that he had died.
People's Reactions
Many Twitter users were in disbelief about Payne's alleged death; one user wrote in all caps, "Payne is not dead," followed by another user writing, "I wish social media (would) stop killing people. Allen Payne ain't dead." Another person shared their thoughts and denied the rumors, writing, "there ain't no way Allen Payne dead."
While some people were confused by the news, other users expressed their frustration that social media platforms were spreading the word that Payne had died when it was not true; a user wrote, "I can't stand Facebook sometimes...somebody said Allen Payne wad dead. Like, why would you put death upon that man before his time?"
Twitter was filled with mixed emotions; while some users were upset that rumors of Payne's death were falsely spreading, others were saddened by the news and shared posts with crying emojis. But most people wanted to know how the rumors had started.
Allen Payne at the premiere of "30 Years To Life" at the Beekman Theater on March 27, 2002, in New York City | Photo: Getty Images
Why Did False Rumors Start to Spread?
The worried responses on Twitter began in November, following a video on a YouTube channel, Stars News, released on November 5, 2021, titled, "R.I.P It's With Heavy Hearts We Report Sad Death of 'House of Payne' Star Allen Payne Beloved One." Since it was posted, the video accumulated over 200,000 views at the time of publication.
It was reported that Stars New was not the only source of the false information; a website called Celebrities Deaths also reported the news and further added fuel to the fire. However, no official statement regarding Payne's death was released.
Allen Payne Is Alive
The rumors of Payne's death were false; not only was Payne alive, but he was also cast to be a part of a new project; film producer Je'Caryous Johnson turned the story of Nino Brown into a stage play, "New Jack City."
Johnson selected Flex Alexander from "One on One," Big Daddy Kane, and Treach from Naughty By Nature to lead in the play alongside" Payne. The storyline was about the rise and fall of a drug lord, Nino Brown, and was initially released in 1991. The original film included Payne, Wesley Snipes, Ice-T, and Chris Rock.
Allen Payne and Jada Pinkett Smith on the set of "Jason's Lyric" in 1994 | Source: Getty Images
Allen Payne and his co-stars toured across America; the tour began in early November in Philadephia at The Met Philadephia and was scheduled to end on February 26, 2023, in St. Louis, Missouri, at Stifel Theatre. They made stops in Brooklyn, Chicago, Texas, California, Washington, Detroit, Atlanta, and more.
Johnson also turned "Set It Off"' into a play in the past, starring Da Brat, Kyla Pratt, LeToya Luckett, and Demetria McKinney in original casting.
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