Atlanta, GA – T.I. is fighting back after TMZ ran an article about his sister’s cause of death. A Fulton County Medical Examiner determined Precious Harris died “from cocaine toxicity which aggravated hypertensive cardiovascular disease (high blood pressure).”
But apparently Tip wasn’t pleased with TMZ’s headline, which boldly stated she died of a cocaine overdose. He believes it tarnishes her legacy.
On Thursday (June 6), the Hustle Gang boss took to Instagram Live to express his disappointment in TMZ founder Harvey Levin, while simultaneously calling for a TMZ boycott.
“And as long as you’ve known me Harvey, I’ve been respectful, I’ve been cordial, I been polite, I been kind, I been fair … you just burned that bridge,” he says in the video. “I hope your story was worth it. You just burned a bridge. To not just me, but everybody around me. All my family. Anybody who stand wit me, anybody who stood wit Precious … will not stand wit you.
“That go for the Deltas [sorority], I need all ya’ll, stand the fuck up, ok? That go for all the children in the communities that she taught, she mentored, ok? That go for all the generations, from 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s.”
The medical examiner’s report also indicated Harris’ high blood pressure led to an abnormal heart rhythm, which disrupted the blood flow to her organs. Harris also suffered from a number of ailments such as chronic lung disease, kidney disease and diabetes.
Simply put, Harris wasn’t exactly in the best of health prior to her passing.
T.I. later shared a photo of his late older sister with text that read: “prettiest angle up there & that’s period.”
In the caption, he added, “Rest Well Lil Sis…WE GOT U!!! Weapons may form… But They WILL NOT prosper. Not Today!!!! U were too good to too many for US to let any hurt harm or danger come to you or your legacy. #LongLivePrecious.”
TMZ has since updated their article with a new headline that reads in all caps, “T.I. POSTING SISTER’S CAUSE OF DEATH INAPPROPRIATE AND WRONG.” The article goes on to praise Harris for her selfless dedication to others and her many philanthropic and humanitarian initiatives.
Throughout her life, Harris mentored children and young women in need, severed as an ambassador for Saving Our Daughters (a nonprofit created by parents Curtis and Debbie Benjamin who lost their child to a brain tumor) and helped feed the homeless through her work with Hosea Feed the Hungry in Atlanta.
TMZ ended the article with, “We got this wrong and we regret posting the M.E.’s findings.”
Harris passed away in February following a car accident. She was 66.