The tenants of one New York City apartment building got some much-needed generosity after Michael Che decided to pay their month’s rent.
He did it to honor his grandmother who used to live in the building but died earlier this month due to COVID-19.
The 36-year-old Saturday Night Live star made the announcement on Instagram on April 15.
“It’s crazy to me that residents of public housing are still expected to pay their rent when so many New Yorkers can’t even work,” Che said.
“Obviously I can’t offer much help by myself,” he continued. “But in the spirit and memory of my late grandmother, I’m paying one month’s rent for all 160 apartments in the NYCHA building she lived in.”
“I know that’s just a drop in the bucket,” the comedian acknowledged. “So I really hope the city has a better plan for debt forgiveness for all the people in public housing, AT THE VERY LEAST.”
In a P.S. he appended at the end of his statement, he called on New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Sean “Diddy” Combs.
“Let’s fix this!” Che said. “Page me!”
Earlier this month, Che announced the passing of his grandmother due to the coronavirus.
“I’m doing ok, considering,” he wrote on Instagram on April 6. “I’m obviously very hurt and angry that she had to go through all that pain alone. But I’m also happy that she’s not in pain anymore. And I also feel guilty for feeling happy. Basically the whole gamut of complex feelings everybody else has lost someone very close and special. I’m not unique.”
“But it’s still scary,” he said.
The SNL star also revealed how frustrated he was at the dearth of information about COVID-19.
“I need a better story,” he said. “I’m just not willing to accept that right now. F— THAT. I need a better story. I know, I shouldn’t curse, but I’m grieving.”
New York is the hardest-hit state in the US with at least 213,779 confirmed cases as of April 15 and more than 12,000 deaths.
Replaced!