Aziza Barnes, a TV writer known for their work on Snowfall and Teenage Bounty Hunter, has died. They were 32.
Known by loved ones as Z, Barnes died by suicide on Dec. 15, their family confirms via a rep. No other details were immediately available.
“With heavy hearts, we regret to inform you of the passing of an undeniable and beloved artist, child, sibling, and friend Aziza ‘Z’ Barnes,” the family said in a statement. “Z has touched and inspired countless individuals both in their community and industry and will be deeply missed and endlessly loved by all who were fortunate to have experienced their presence and work. An incomparable talent, we look for understanding in Z’s words, and wish comfort and understanding as we grieve this loss.”
Barnes’ friend Safia Elhillo remembered them on Substack as “a brilliant writer and bender of genre, who died too soon, who leaves an entire community behind, gathered in grief,” sharing Barnes’ poem ‘Eulogy for Her’.
Born in Los Angeles, Barnes earned a BFA from New York University and attended the University of Mississippi in pursuit of an MFA. A member of the NYU Poetry Slam team, their work has won multiple awards, making Barnes a Callaloo fellow and Poet’s House fellow.
In addition to FX’s Snowfall and Netflix’s Teenage Bounty Hunters, Barnes worked on Max’s Rap Sh!t and HBO’s upcoming Game of Thrones prequel A Knight of Seven Kingdoms.