'This Is Us' Cast & Crew Express Their Grief And Devastation After Writer Jas Waters Commits Suicide

Source: Twitter

TV writer Jas Waters – who worked on This Is Us and Kidding – died on June 9 at the age of 39. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s office, Waters’ cause of death was listed as suicide by hanging.

Waters had an amazing career that included running her own entertainment website, and she was also a columnist for Vibe magazine. In addition to her work on This Is Us and Kidding, she wrote for Hood Adjacent with James Davis and The Breaks. Waters was also credited as a screenwriter for the 2019 movie What Men Want.

https://twitter.com/ashleyn1cole/status/1270822896722558976

She also starred in the only season of the VH1 reality series The Gossip Game as JasFly, which focused on bloggers and other journalists who cover the music industry.

The writers of This Is Us broke the news of Waters’ passing on Wednesday via a social media post. The NBC drama’s Twitter account wrote the following:

“The entire #ThisIsUs family was devastated to learn of Jas Waters passing. In our time together, Jas left her mark on us and ALL over the show. She was a brilliant storyteller and a force of nature. We send our deepest sympathies to her loved ones. She was one of us. RIP @JasFly.”

Series creator Dan Fogelman issues a separate statement, writing that the news of Waters’ death took his breath away. He described her as “absolutely brilliant” and said she still had so many stories to tell. Fogelman shared that Waters made “an indelible mark” on This Is Us, and his heart breaks for her loved ones.

This Is Us star Mandy Moore tweeted that she was “sending love and light” to Waters’ family and loved ones. Chrissy Metz wrote that Waters graced the show as a fantastic writer, but knowing her and her beautiful spirit was to love her.

The entire #ThisIsUs family was devastated to learn of Jas Waters passing. In our time together, Jas left her mark on us and ALL over the show. She was a brilliant storyteller and a force of nature. We send our deepest sympathies to her loved ones. She was one of us. RIP @JasFly. pic.twitter.com/cmrh2OO8of

— ThisIsUsWriters (@ThisIsUsWriters) June 10, 2020

“I am praying for your beautiful transition,” wrote Metz. “May it be full of love, light, and peace. Thank you for the time we shared, your fearlessness and inspiration.”

Kidding creator Dave Holstein wrote that Jas Waters was a “one of a kind voice” who was integral to their writing team. He said her passing was a devastating loss for everyone who knew her and lived in her light.