Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Kanye's Mom Dies After Plastic Surgery
By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 12, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 12, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
This weekend Kanye West's mother (and manager), Dr. Donda West, died after surgery - which the BBC is reporting was cosmetic (UPDATE: she was warned prior to getting the surgery). West was very close with his 58-year-old mother, often speaking publicly about their bond and even writing a song for her. Just this summer the two were at Borders to promote her new book, Raising Kanye.
Kanye was in London when told of the death, and traveled back to the States this weekend. His mother was a noted scholar, college professor and most recently the CEO of West Brands LLC and chairperson of the Kanye West Foundation. Last night at Hammerstein Ballroom Jay-Z dedicated his concert to her, and "near the end of his nearly two-hour set, the rapper asked for a moment of silence to pay respect to Donda West."
In 2004, author Olivia Goldsmith died after a routine face-lift -- Suzanne Vega wrote a song for her soon after called Edith Wharton's Figurines. After her death, another woman at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat for a face-lift also died. Makes one wonder how the new cosmetic walk-in clinics will fare -- and how Jocelyn Wildenstein is still alive.
Tagged
bbc
college
death
dondawest
edith wharton
entertainment
fare
hammerstein ballroom
jay-z
kanye west
kanyewest
london
manhattan
news
people
Suzanne Vega
trends
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Intoxication not a 'license' to rape: Hochul pushes to tighten law amid Cornell scandal
The state Assembly has consistently declined to advance the measures.
By
Walter Wuthmann
Published Oct 2, 2026 at 12:03 p.m. ET
NYC Parks police told a yoga teacher to leash her dog. It got ugly.
Jurors ruled against Sabrina Toner, finding that the officers did not use excessive force.
By
Samantha Max
News
NYC Parks police told a yoga teacher to leash her dog. It got ugly.
Jurors ruled against Sabrina Toner, finding that the officers did not use excessive force.
By
Samantha Max
Early Addition: There's finally stuff inside the Times Square tower where the ball drops
By
James Ramsay
NYC subway dragging death highlights an old school MTA failsafe
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
'We were the victim': Brooklyn shelter's new CEO speaks after corruption scandal
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .