Nightclub apologises after dead rapper's 'body propped up on stage' in 'Irish wake'

The macabre event took place in Club Bliss on Sunday night when fans of rapper Goonew, who had paid a 40 dollar entrance fee, danced alongside the corpse of the 24-year-old, whose real name was Markelle Morrow.

Social media recordings from the bizarre funeral for the rapper, who was shot in the back during a robbery in the District Heights neighbourhood on March 18, saw his body with his eye open, sporting a designer Amiri hooded sweatshirt, ripped jeans decorated with flames and sneakers, and accessorised with a watch and a gold crown.

The New York Post reported that the nightclub apologised for the spectacle which the paper described as “like an Irish wake”.

“Our deepest condolences to Goonew’s family, friends and fans,” the venue wrote in a statement, which was shared on Instagram on Monday by the Shade Room.

“Bliss was contacted by a local funeral home to rent out our venue for Goonew’s home-going celebration.

“Bliss was never made aware of what would transpire. We sincerely apologise to all those who may be upset or offended,” the venue continued. “Please keep Goonew’s family and friends in your prayers at this difficult time.”

“The statement was posted amid trending Twitter footage that reportedly showed the slain rapper, whose real name is Markelle Morrow, apparently propped up onstage at Bliss nightclub while mourners raved around him like an Irish wake,” the New York Post wrote.

“The hip-hopper’s corpse was decked out in a hoody, a blinged-out watch and a crown.”

A source who attended the macabre public viewing, entitled ‘The Last Show’, confirmed that there was a $40 cover charge to enter the venue, the Shade Room wrote in a prior post.

While there were some suggestions that the figure was a mannequin, others clarified that it was, in fact, the rapper’s body.

Black Fortune — a rapper who performed at the event — wrote in an Instagram Story: “No this ain’t no wax figure, my Brodie went out gansta.”

The general consensus on social media was that the display was obscene and disrespectful.

“No way Goonew mama approved that s–t, that’s so sad & disrespectful,” wrote one fan on Twitter. Another added: “If y’all saw that video with Goonew’s body y’all can’t tell me this society ain’t already collapsed … “

“This is madness,” another added. “WHO THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA?”

Hip-hop icon 50 Cent weighed in on Twitter, writing: “Oh s–t ! I just realised what this is.”

Meanwhile, another tweeter — reportedly an employee at the bar, expressed shock upon arrival, claiming they were not told about the funeral.

“Imagine walking into work and it’s a deceased body on display. They didn’t warn us they didn’t tell us they didn’t even know,” they wrote. “When I say I’ve officially been traumatised this year I mean it.”

Morrow had reportedly been shot dead by an unknown assailant in District Heights, Maryland, on March 18, according to the Prince George’s County Police Department.

“Once on scene, they located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound,” police had said. “The victim was taken to a hospital for life-threatening injuries. At approx. 7:30 p.m., the victim was pronounced dead.”

Police are currently offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest of a suspect in the shooting.