Godfrey Gao would have been groomsman at James Mao’s wedding two days after sudden death: ‘I wake up sobbing, I’m devastated’ says bereaved best friend in emotional post
Former basketball pro James Mao posted a heartbreaking social media post in tribute to best friend Godfrey Gao, who was set to serve as groomsman at his wedding two days after the Taiwanese actor and model’s sudden death on November 27
Friends and family of late model-actor Godfrey Gao are still coming to terms with his sudden death last Wednesday, November 27, but the road to healing isn’t easy.
Former professional basketball player James Mao, one of Gao’s closest friends, wrote on Friday morning that his passing has left him shaken.
“I don’t really know where to begin. I’ve been trying to gather my thoughts for the past two days, but anytime I try to write anything I break down in tears. I wake up sobbing, I’m devastated,” Mao wrote via Facebook and Instagram.
The note comes just hours before Mao and his wife are set to hold their wedding reception, where Gao was meant to be a groomsman.
Recalling their first meeting 15 years back, Mao said he “knew from that day forward we would be good friends, but I never expected you to become my family”.
“I always wanted to be like you. When you wore baggy jeans, I wanted you to take me to buy the same pair. When you listened to Trey Songz and Bobby Vm who I never heard of, I asked you to make me a mixtape too. When you drove a Nissan Cefiro, I got one soon after that,” he wrote.
In his tribute, Mao said Gao was the “most genuine” person he knew, and that strangers were often shocked that he was so down-to-earth.
“When you first started your career, I was able to take care of you for a few months, and ever since then you’ve been taking care of me,” he wrote in the post accompanied by 13 photos and videos of the duo spending time together.
“Tomorrow’s my big day and you’re not here. I don’t know how this pain is gonna stop, realising I’m not gonna see you again,” he added.