SNL’s Michael Che pays rent for all 160 flats in his late grandmother Martha’s housing project after her death of coronavirus complications
Michael Che announced on Instagram this Wednesday that he will pay rent for all 160 apartments in his late grandmother’s housing project.
The 36-year-old Saturday Night Live star announced last week that his grandmother Martha died of coronavirus complications.
This Wednesday he wrote: ‘its crazy to me that residents of public housing are still expected to pay rent when so many new yorkers cant even work.’
Giving back: Michael Che announced on Instagram this Wednesday that he will pay rent for all 160 apartments in his late grandmother’s housing project
He added: ‘obviously i cant offer much help by myself. but in the spirit and memory of my late grandmother, im paying one months rent for all 160 apartments in the NYCHA building she lived in.’
Michael continued: ‘i know thats just a drop in the bucket. so i really hope the city has a better plan for debt forgiveness for all the people in public housing, AT THE VERY LEAST.’
The TV star closed his message with plea to New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio.
Michael, who wished viewers goodnight as ‘Martha’s grandbaby’ on the latest Saturday Night Live, wrote: ‘deblasio! cuomo! diddy! lets fix this! page me!’
Doing what he can: This Wednesday he wrote: ‘its crazy to me that residents of public housing are still expected to pay rent when so many new yorkers cant even work’
‘I’m confused. Why did your grandma live in NYCHA with such a generous and successful grandson? PS I’m not asking that sarcastically,’ asked a commenter.
Michael replied: ‘lol i guess thats a fair question. but she hasnt lived in public housing since like 1990, when she moved down south.’
The funnyman continued: ‘but that building is very significant in my family’s history, so thats why i chose it. i guess i just worded it weird.’
Last week he wrote and then deleted an Instagram post revealing that Martha had succumbed to complications from the pandemic illness.
‘Fair question’: Michael also gave an explanation to a commentator who asked: ‘Why did your grandma live in NYCHA with such a generous and successful grandson?’
He shared he was simultaneously ‘hurt and angry that she had to go through all that pain alone’ and ‘happy that she’s not in pain anymore’.
Michael was candid about the ‘complex feelings’ accompanying his bereavement, writing: ”i just refuse to believe i lost my sweet, beautiful grandma, because some n***a ate a bat one time. im sorry.’
In a New York Times interview last year Michael held forth about his own experience growing up in public housing in Lower Manhattan.
‘Complex feelings’: Last week he wrote and then deleted an Instagram post revealing that Martha had succumbed to complications from the pandemic illness
‘You go without heat. You go without food. You go without doorknobs. You go without everything. Elevators don’t work. There was grease and oil inside the elevators to keep off graffiti, but then you couldn’t touch the wall,’ he shared.
‘You remember the people sleeping outside. You remember the murders of people in their teens and 20s, people making tons of cash who weren’t making tons of cash the day before. It’s a very familiar story.’
He was giving the interview to promote a fundraiser he was hosting at Irving Plaza for the New York City Housing Authority.
Mourning: Michael is pictured on the latest episode of Saturday Night Live where he paid tribute to his grandmother and said goodnight as ‘Martha’s grandbaby’