Muhammad Ali, boxing’s “greatest of all time”, passed away on Friday (June 3rd) at the age of 74.
Celebrity fans and friends alike – from his daughters, Justin Timberlake, Oprah Winfrey, Madonna, President Obama and more – took to social media to remember the legendary boxer.
In his 2004 memoir, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on a Life’s Journey, circulating around the internet, Ali wrote:
“I would like to be remembered as a man who won the heavyweight title three times, who was humorous, and who treated everyone right. As a man who never looked down on those who looked up to him, and who helped as many people as he could. As a man who stood up for his beliefs no matter what. As a man who tried to unite all humankind through faith and love. And if all that’s too much, then I guess I’d settle for being remembered only as a great boxer who became a leader and a champion of his people. And I wouldn’t even mind if folks forgot how pretty I was.”
Read ahead to see the reactions from those who love him.
The Greatest Man that ever lived. Daddy my best friend & my Hero You R no longer suffering & now in a better place. pic.twitter.com/IASO4u3Ikn — RASHEDA ALI™ (@rashedaali) June 4, 2016
Our father was a “Humble Mountain!” And now he has gone home to God. God bless you daddy. YOU ARE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE!
— Hana Ali (@Hanayali) June 4, 2016
The world has lost a Legend and real Champion. #RIPMuhammadAli pic.twitter.com/0CHBR7od5N — Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) June 4, 2016
RIP #MuhammedAli. Truly the greatest of all time. Your legacy extends beyond sports. — Mark Wahlberg (@mark_wahlberg) June 4, 2016
We lost a giant today. You will always be GOAT. Our hearts and prayers go out to the Ali family. May God bless them. pic.twitter.com/g7s6GETODG
— Manny Pacquiao (@mannypacquiao) June 4, 2016
I met #Ali once. He was a great role model and a great man. Sending my thoughts and prayers to his family tonight. — Barry Sanders (@BarrySanders) June 4, 2016
“Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn’t matter which color does the hating. It’s just plain wrong.”-Ali #TheGreatest
Until Ali no one said “I’m beautiful” he was royalty, yet common man was his pal. That is beauty. Greatest kind pic.twitter.com/uX7htKHrGc — George Foreman (@GeorgeForeman) June 4, 2016
— Official Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) June 4, 2016
This Man. This King. This Hero. This Human! Words cannot express. He shook up the World! God Bless Him. pic.twitter.com/FQgKup7swz — Madonna (@Madonna) June 4, 2016
You will always be my hero … #MuhammadAli pic.twitter.com/Rbp7Be3JAK — Lionel Richie (@LionelRichie) June 4, 2016
He shook up the world, and the world’s better for it. Rest in peace, Champ. pic.twitter.com/z1yM3sSLH3 — President Obama (@POTUS) June 4, 2016
My thoughts & prayers go out to Muhammad Ali’s family. My long statement is posted onhttps://t.co/3E8awvpT08 pic.twitter.com/aEVzMacHg0 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) June 4, 2016
Unsurprisingly, he said it best himself. #MuhammedAli pic.twitter.com/G1BykvvzfF — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 4, 2016
RIP, Muhammad Ali. Here’s SI’s cover remembering The Greatest pic.twitter.com/Qv63cBPM3M — Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 4, 2016
The Greatest. Take a moment today to remember how inspiring this human being is… We will miss you… Thank you for changing the world. –JT A photo posted by Justin Timberlake (@justintimberlake) on
What a kind, special man. I treasure my moments spent with him. Bless you forever, you gentle warrior. @muhammadali #RIP A photo posted by Elton John (@eltonjohn) on
Honored to have recently spent time with The Greatest… #RIP #Ali #RestEasyChamp A photo posted by Mario Lopez (@mariolopezextra) on
