Poet & Activist Andrea Gibson Passes Away at 49
Here's all we know about the circumstances surrounding the death of Andrea Gibson.
An award-winning spoken word poet and author, Andrea Gibson has passed away at the age of 49.
Andrea Gibson's death was confirmed by their wife, Megan Falley, via a heartfelt announcement on social media. They died at their home in Boulder, Colorado, after a battle with ovarian cancer. The emotional post revealed Gibson was surrounded by their wife, family, several ex-partners, close friends, and their cherished dogs in their final moments.
Gibson and Falley had recently become the focus of a deeply personal documentary titled Come See Me in the Good Light, directed by Ryan White. The film, which documents their love story and Gibson's journey through illness, received the Festival Favorite Award at the Sundance Film Festival. It is expected to release on Apple TV+ this fall. Gibson also co-wrote a song for the project alongside Sara Bareilles and Brandi Carlile, adding to the film's emotional impact.
At Sundance, Gibson admitted they didn't think they would live to witness the film's premiere. Moreover, their powerful words and presence moved the audience to tears, highlighting how much their artistry meant to so many. Their poetry often focused on gender identity, grief, social justice, and the healing power of vulnerability.
Following their demise, tributes poured in from fans and fellow creatives alike. Authors Cheryl Strayed and Elizabeth Gilbert were among those who honored Gibson's impact, calling them a 'ray of light' and someone who expanded minds and hearts. LGBTQ+ fans especially resonated with Gibson's work, often crediting their poetry with helping them embrace self-love and navigate identity. Others battling terminal illnesses found comfort in Gibson's fearlessness and reflections on mortality.
Originally reported by Harshika Bhatia on ComingSoon.
The post Poet & Activist Andrea Gibson Passes Away at 49 appeared first on Mandatory.
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Los Angeles Times
25 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Andrea Gibson, poet and the subject of an award-winning documentary, dies at 49
Andrea Gibson, a poet, activist and subject of the documentary film 'Come See Me in the Good Light,' died on Monday following a four-year fight with ovarian cancer. They were 49. According to an announcement made on Instagram, Gibson died on Monday at their Longmont, Colo. home at 4:16 a.m., 'surrounded by their wife, Meg, four ex-girlfriends, their mother and father, dozens of friends, and their three beloved dogs.' The post also included a quote from Gibson: 'Whenever I leave this world, whether it's sixty years from now, I wouldn't want anyone to say I lost some battle. I'll be a winner that day.' They were the author of seven poetry books and were well-recognized for their role in the documentary film 'Come See Me in the Good Light,' which won the Festival Favorite Award at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. The film follows both Gibson and their partner as they come to terms with their terminal cancer diagnosis. 'Throughout the Festival, we saw audiences moved by Andrea Gibson's and Megan Falley's journeys in 'Come See Me in the Good Light,'' Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming Kim Yutani said to the fest's website. 'Festival goers embraced the humor and heartbreak of this intimate documentary directed by Ryan White, as it speaks to art and love and reminds us what it means to be alive as we face mortality.' Tig Notaro, a producer on the film, on Monday reminisced about the impact that Gibson had on poetry in the wake of their death. 'As far as poetry went, I really only knew the roses are red type stuff. Then, Andrea Gibson walked on stage,' Notaro wrote on Instagram. 'Andrea was truly a rock star poet. So many of Andrea's words have quietly guided me through life's twists and turns- I will forever be so grateful.' Gibson, born on Aug. 13, 1975, in Calais, Maine, was a two-time winner of the Independent Publisher's award in 2019 and 2021. They were named the ninth Poet Laureate of Colorado in September 2023, and they served until their death. The two-year title honors outstanding Colorado poets and promotes the art form. 'Andrea's voice holds a fierce conviction in inspiring others to pursue art and take action toward solving social issues and they personify our Colorado for All spirit,' Colorado Governor Jared Polis wrote in a press release upon Gibson's achievement in 2023. 'I know Andrea will be a strong advocate for the arts and art education as a way to bring us together, has a strong desire for unity and to bring people together through poetry.' On Monday, Polis remembered Gibson as 'one of a kind' and an artist who 'will be deeply missed.' In 2008, Gibsonwon the first-ever Women of the World Poetry Slam. According to their Academy of American Poets profile, they received its Laureate Fellowship in 2024. 'Meg and Heather, the authors of this post, have absolutely no idea how to encapsulate the magnitude and magnificence of a life like Andrea Gibson's,' Monday's announcement continued. 'So they intend to keep writing, to keep telling Andrea's story, to keep Andrea alive in every way they can. 'Andrea would want you to know that they got their wish. In the end, their heart was covered in stretch marks.'
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Rogen: Every Hollywood event I go to now is literally just so I can ask people to be on our show.
