Carmella Wallace Is Juice WRLD's Mother and She Became a Mental Health Advocate

Juice WRLD's untimely death following a drug overdose touched many fans, not least his mother, Carmella Wallace. She had been aware of her son's problems with substance abuse, and his tragic death motivated her to speak out against those issues.

Born on December 2, 1998, Juice WRLD was only 21 when he lost his life but had already established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the rap world. He gained significant popularity in the late 2010s, with several of his songs making the Billboard charts, and the future was looking bright for the young rapper.

Arguably the person most affected by his death was his mother, Wallace. She has since taken the initiative to try and help those facing similar challenges to her son's, a role she thinks her son had started through his music. She advocates for mental health and founded the Live Free 999 foundation.

Carmella’s Son Died Tragically, and His Family Chose to Help Others with the Same Problem He Had

After the unfortunate passing of the rapper, his family saw it as an opportunity to educate others in similar circumstances. Wallace knew her son was suffering from drug dependency and regretted that the problem cut their time together short.

The rapper often talked about prescription drugs in his music and while interacting with fans. However, his family said that, contrary to popular belief, he was not trying to promote the use of drugs. Instead, he was trying to help those battling addiction and loneliness by showing them they were not alone.

The family hopes the conversations he began through his music about drug abuse will continue and help others in their fight against the problem. Although Wallace's son failed in his battle, she believes that is not a reason to give up. Speaking to TMZ, she lamented:

"Addiction knows no boundaries and its impact goes way beyond the person fighting it. Jarad was a son, brother, grandson, friend and so much more to so many people who wanted more than anything to see him defeat addiction."

Carmella Once Shared Her Emotions about Her Son’s Death

In January 2022, just over two years after her son's death, Wallace held her first interview on tv in which she spoke about her son's tragic death. The interview was emotional for everyone involved, including the host, Tamron Hall, Wallace, and the audience, who showed great support for the bereaved mom.

During the show, one of Wallace's questions was a scrutiny of the people close to Juice WRLD and their role in his lifestyle choices. The saddened mother replied that she did not feel her son's best interests were being prioritized and the people in his inner circle had their own agendas.

Additionally, the people around him were too young; hence, they didn't see anything wrong with how he lived. No one among the people in his group stopped him from using it. However, she also admitted that while some people around her son raised concerns, they were not the ones very close to him.

Wallace also spoke to Juice WRLD about overdosing risks and encouraged him to seek professional help. Although initially unwilling to follow his mother's advice, he was reportedly ready to sober up in the months before his death.

She Wrote a Touching Letter on His Birthday after His Death

On what would have been Juice WRLD's 23rd birthday, his mother marked the occasion by penning an emotional letter dedicated to him. Juice WRLD, a celebrated artist who had collaborated with artists such as Travis Scott and Lil Uzi Vert had a bright future. The open letter began with the words:

"When you were born 23 years ago, I never expected that you would not be here today celebrating your birthday. Although it has been nearly two years since you've been gone, I still think about every day, and losing you has changed my life forever."

The letter continued with Wallace showing gratitude for the fact that they always said goodbye every time they were parting ways, which may bring a comforting feeling as they didn't get to see each other again. Still, she missed her baby and all the good times.

The pair shared some incredible memories that Wallace will never forget. Near the end, she recalled how his music had helped so many people, some of whom had sent her messages telling her how it had helped them. She reiterated that she would continue discussing mental health and drug abuse.