Influencer Ariela 'La Langosta,' Friend of Rapper 6ix9ine, Has Died
Dominican influencer Ariiela Lalangosta has died.
The content creator, who was known for her public friendship with rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine, regularly shared content about fashion and modeling on her Instagram account, which had over 556,000 followers.
In a statement to PEOPLE, Ikon New York, a Manhattan restaurant and lounge, confirmed Lalangosta was an employee of the establishment and said that she was "at work" the night before she died on Aug. 17.
In a series of posts to his Instagram Stories after the news of her death, Tekashi 6ix9ine remembered his late friend, writing in Spanish that she was the 'queen of New York.'
'NY won't ever be the same,' added the rapper. 'I loved you.'
On the day of her death, Ikon New York posted a tribute to Lalangosta, remembering her 'joy,' 'humility,' and the way she 'treated everyone with so much care.'
'Thank you for giving so much love and support to our home, which also became yours. To Ariela's family, we are here for anything you need. We still can't believe it… you were our smile, our happiness. We love you and we will miss you forever. 🙏🏽✨'
Following the tragic news, the restaurant will remain closed until Thursday, Aug. 21, 'out of respect for one of our beloved team members who recently passed,' the business shared on Instagram.
'She was a brilliant, humble soul with incredible energy — the kind of person who could light up any room she entered. She will be deeply missed by all of us,' the post continued. 'Please take a moment to cherish and love your own loved ones. Life is precious.'
Starlets of New York, a nightclub in Queens, also shared a tribute to the late content creator, calling Lalangosta "a beautiful friend, loving mother, and daughter whose smile and energy lit up every room she entered" in a post on Instagram.
The post continues: "Her energy will forever be missed, but her spirit will always live on with us."
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