Renowned Latino comedian Ken Flores was found dead in his home in Los Angeles. The artist, who launched his career in Chicago before making a name for himself in California, was 28 at the time of his passing.
The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office confirmed his death, while his family shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram on Wednesday night.
"It is with great sadness that we confirm the untimely passing of our friend, brother, and son, Kenyi Flores," the statement read. "Please respect our privacy at this time, as we are all shocked and devastated by this loss."
Tributes Pour In for Ken Flores
The comedy and Latino entertainment communities, particularly those based in the U.S., expressed their condolences in response to the family's post, mourning the loss of the beloved comedian.
"😢😢😢😢 speechless! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 RIP Bro" wrote Jimmy Humilde, founder of the record label Rancho Humilde.
TV host and actor Mario López shared three heart emojis, while Mexican-American rapper Snow Tha Product said she was heartbroken: "💔🙏😔🕊️
Hollywood Improv, a well-known comedy club that features stand-up and improvisational comedians, also paid tribute:
"We were honored to share your talent on our stages. You were greatness, and it was only a matter of time until the whole world saw it. You were also kind and a tremendous friend to all lucky enough to know you. We love you Ken, thank you for all the laughs. #kenflores #rip"
A fan shared their admiration, recalling the comedian's impact:
"Tragic. I saw him @hollywoodimprov several times and he was always first class. I loved it when audiences had no idea what to make of him but they always got on board and he killed it. Such a loss."
A Career Rooted in Authenticity
Ken Flores first gained recognition on YouTube, where he showcased his humor while working as a bank teller. His stand-up routines focused on representing marginalized voices in urban America, blending raw reality with humor to highlight life in poverty and social exclusion.
His breakthrough came with LatinXL, a comedy routine where he openly and humorously addressed his experiences with obesity.
"There's a lot of people like me around the world that think like me, and we just don't have a voice," Flores said in an interview with the Comedy Gazelle."There are Latino comics, like Gabriel Iglesias, but he's not like me. He didn't grow up in the hood. He wasn't a drug addict. He didn't grow up like me, so he doesn't speak for me."There are so many people out there like me, who think like me, but we just don't have a voice."
"But there's a lot of people that I can speak for that don't really have a voice in comedy. One of the things that makes me the happiest is when people tell me, 'This is the first time I've ever gone to a comedy show. I relate to all your (stuff), bro, and I had to come see it.' ", he added, and those were the moments he lived for.
Ken Flores' raw and unapologetic humor resonated deeply with audiences who saw themselves reflected in his stories. His passing leaves a void in the Latino comedy scene, but his impact and voice will live on through those who connected with his work.
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