Grieving spouse watched dancehall queen take her last breath

Robert 'Faada Fresh' Latibeaudiere, the grieving spouse of former Dancehall Queen Bubbler, watched in agony last Monday as she took her last breath. For 25 years, Bubbler was the love of his life, and her sudden death has left him shattered.

"Mi cyaah cope, a 25 years now mi and Bubbler a live as common-law [couple], enuh. Mi nuh see nobody else or sleep alone fi 25 years. How mi a go sleep alone now?" a distraught Latibeaudiere questioned as his voice cracked.

Bubbler, remembered for her captivating stage walk and electrifying dance moves, was briefly hospitalised after complaining of severe headaches. Latibeaudiere said she had been treated for migraines, but doctors later suspected a brain aneurysm. He stayed by her side until the end.

"Mi deh deh wid her right through - mi see her tek her last breath and see her last heartbeat," he said.

Bubbler - not to be confused with fellow dancer Georgia 'Bubbler' Gray who died in 2019 - got her first major break in 1998 when she was crowned Miss Dancehall Queen second runner-up for the International Dancehall Queen Competition, held in Montego Bay, St James. She also copped the sectional prize for Miss Congeniality. Internationally, the dancer was crowned Best Bubbler in 1996 for the Biggs Rock Promotion Canadian Link-Up Part 1 competition.

Latibeaudiere, who is also an entertainer and producer, described Bubbler as a good woman.

"Mi wife did a guh too hard fi mi, star. She always a work fi show mi seh she can duh it and guh through and she alright. She's just a go-getter, and she love people and everybody love her. She support everybody and she too loving, man," he uttered as he broke down again. The deejay, however, lit up with laughter when he reminisced on how they met.

"Di walk alone weh mi see har wid pon dancehall queen grab me, and mi seh, 'A dah girl deh mi want, enuh', but mi neva dream seh ... mi cudda get no dancehall queen girl. But, after her friend [formally] introduce her to me, she cook rice and mackerel fi mi di first day a mi yard," he laughed. "Farrin mackerel and rice - nice nuh blow wow, and, from dat, mi nuh look back, because di girl face pretty, enuh."

He reminisced on her strength after she survived two near-death experiences in a major car accident which badly disfigured her face. She later developed Bell's palsy, a condition that causes temporary paralysis of the face. But Latibeaudiere said he looked beyond her scars, kissed them, and told her that she was still pretty, while expressing gratitude that she made a full recovery.

The grieving entertainer said he's getting support from his family and industry colleagues such as artistes Beenie Man, New Kidz and Luciano. He also expressed the hope that Bubbler will be remembered in a "positive" way and as a trendsetter. Bubbler leaves behind two children.