Rihanna has issued an emotional plea for help to track down her missing backup dancer Shirlene Quigley.
The "Diamonds" singer posted a video of Shirlene to Instagram on Monday and asked anyone with details on Shirlene's whereabouts to inform authorities in New Jersey.
Along with the video, Rihanna posted the following text: "This beautiful soul, and former dancer of mine is MISSING!!!! My heart aches thinking of how heavy this is on all who love her! If anyone has seen or has any information on @shirlenequigley's whereabouts.....PLEASE CONTACT the North Bergen Police Department 201 392 2100!!!!"
In the video, Shirlene discusses the importance of being kind to each other. She says, "Imagine if we treated each other like we all really came from the same family. I know people probably think I'm crazy because I'm always telling everyone 'I love you! I love you!' Because the minute that I meet somebody, I do love them, because I know in my heart and in my spirit that that's my brother and my sister, that's my neighbor."
She adds, "If I make a connection, a relationship, whether it be one minute, one year or the rest of my life, if you are in my life, I love you."
Shirlene, 32, has been missing since Sunday, October 23. People reports that she was "last seen getting on a bus at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City around 1 a.m." that day.
In addition to dancing with Rihanna, Shirlene has also performed with Beyoncé, Missy Elliot and Jamie Foxx. Her career was launched when she danced in Beyoncé's 2003 "Crazy in Love" music video.
When she's not appearing alongside top musicians, she's teaching dance at Peridance Capezio Center and Broadway Dance Center in Manhattan. She lives in North Bergen, New Jersey.
Shirlene's father first grew concerned about his daughter's well-being when he didn't hear from her around 6 p.m. on Sunday, a time when they typically talk on the phone.
Her cellphone was later discovered at a bridal store in Chelsea, New York, and her father has since said that Shirlene recently made an odd comment to a friend. She said, "Get ready, it's about to happen and I'm going to need you to sub for me."
UPDATE: Shirlene has been found safe at an undisclosed location. Missy Elliott wrote on her Twitter account yesterday afternoon that the dancer was "safe & being treated." No other information on what happened has yet been made available.
Below, check out Rihanna's Instagram post, as well as one made by Missy Elliot. ~Matthew Pariselli
A video posted by Missy Elliott (@missymisdemeanorelliott) on
Sounds like she took off somewhere. Hope that's the case and not something more sinister.
I wonder if Rihanna really cares. I'd be surprised.
She'll definitely turn up somewhere