Teen who filmed George Floyd’s last moments praised by Floyd’s family

The family of George Floyd have thanked Darnella Frazier who was just 17 years old when she filmed Derek Chauvin murdering George Floyd

Following the verdict, Darnella Frazier took to Facebook to say: "I just cried so hard. "This last hour my heart was beating so fast, I was so anxious, anxiety bussing through the roof. "But to know GUILTY ON ALL 3 CHARGES !!! THANK YOU GOD THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. "George Floyd we did it!! Justice has been served." Celebrities and public figures also took to social media to thank Frazier. Oprah Winfrey paid tribute to her, saying she was "grateful to Darnella Frazier."  

#GeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/HKeNlthckW

— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) April 20, 2021

Frazier received the 2020 PEN/Benenson Courage Award from the nonprofit PEN America in December last year, with Spike Lee presenting her with the award stating: "I'm so proud of my sister. "She documented the murder of George Floyd, our brother. King Floyd. "And that footage reverberated around this God's earth." Martin Luther King Jr's daughter tweeted that she was sending "emotional healing" to Frazier, also sending love and strength to George Floyd's family, and the family of Makhia Bryant - a 16 year old shot and killed by police in Ohio shortly after Chauvin's guilty verdict.

Love and comfort to the Floyd family.

Peace and blessings to Gianna Floyd. Emotional healing to Darnella Frazier. Prayers for Ma’Khia Bryant’s family. Hope and grace to each of you. Goodnight. ?? — Be A King (@BerniceKing) April 21, 2021

Frazier filmed the video on 25th May 2020, posting it on Facebook a day later, saying "They killed him right in front of cup foods over south on 38th and Chicago!! No type of sympathy #POLICEBRUTALITY." Little did she know that this footage would be a key part of the evidence in convicting Chauvin. Scandal star Kerry Washington also thanked Frazier on Twitter, describing her as a "hero."

Darnella Frazier is a hero. Her bravery in that moment must never be forgotten. We lift you up Darnella.

— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) April 20, 2021

During Chauvin's trial, Frazier now 18 years old, spoke of her emotions in the aftermath of Floyd's death. "When I look at George Floyd, I look at my dad, I look at my brothers, I look at my cousins, my uncles. At one point, she revealed that she stayed up late apologising over and again to George Floyd for not doing more, but said she now realises "it’s not what I should have done. It’s what he [Chauvin] should have done."