Jake Bailey, a celebrity makeup artist whose clients included Katy Perry, Selena Gomez, Gwen Stefani, Emmy Rossum and Mariah Carey, was found dead on Oct. 23 of an apparent suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning at his Los Angeles home. He was 37. Perry shared this message on her Instagram.
Jake, my sweet, sensitive soul. What a wonderful journey and friendship we had together. What beautiful art we created together. We conquered the world’s biggest stages together. I know you felt life so intensely, and it created this incredible artistic passion in you that came out in everything you touched, from the amazing images you took to the ways you painted your muses, highlighting the beauty in everyone. You had the most otherworldly eye to detail.
You essentially created my “look” ever since we met on set for the music video for “Hot N Cold.” We confided in each other, rallied each other at our lows and pushed each other to be our best. We never got comfortable, and I know that was why we did the best work together. My favorite moments of recent times are when we would meditate together during breaks on different jobs … tune out all the noise, forget about Hollywood and the chaos that surrounds it and look for a slice of peace 20 minutes at a time.
I know sometimes it was hard to find consistent happiness here on this earth — I understand you in that way. I want you to know now, finally and forevermore, that I appreciate you and all the lessons we traded each other in this life. I love you. No more work, no more searching; you are finally at peace. Every time I sit in that chair we shared, just know that no one holds a brush to you, friend. Be free now. My prayers are with the Bailey family.