Inside D’Angelo’s struggles before his death at age 51

New details have emerged following the death of D’Angelo at the age of 51.

The R&B music icon, who passed away following a private battle with pancreatic cancer on Tuesday, Oct. 14, was said to have struggled with his self-image ever since stepping away from the spotlight in the early 2000s.

“D’Angelo was very eccentric; he had a manager, but he wouldn’t work,” an insider close to the late musician told People after D’Angelo’s death was announced. “He was a recluse; he didn’t like going out of the house.”

“He battled with his weight,” the source continued. “The chiseled machismo man that people fell in love with, that wasn’t his natural aesthetic. He was naturally a bigger guy.”

“He never was comfortable being a sex symbol, but also he didn’t like people seeing him on his heavier side, so he was always really conflicted,” they added.

But the insider also revealed that D’Angelo, whose real name was Michael Eugene Archer, wasn’t alone at the time of his passing, and that the “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” hitmaker spent his final moments being cared for by family.

“[D’Angelo] was in hospice for two weeks but had been in the hospital for months,” the source said. “His son was there with him and had been with him in the hospital.”

The “Brown Sugar” artist shared a son, Michael Archer Jr., 27, with the late R&B star Angie Stone. Stone tragically passed away earlier this year following a car accident on March 1. She was 63.

“People are really worried about Mike right now; his mom died a day after his birthday, and now six months later, he’s burying his dad,” they added. “He’s been through a lot in such a short amount of time.”

D’Angelo’s family confirmed his death in an emotional statement to The Post on Tuesday.

“The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life,” they began. “After a prolonged and courageous battle with cancer, we are heartbroken to announce that Michael D’Angelo Archer, known to his fans around the world as D’Angelo, has been called home, departing this life today, October 14th, 2025.”

“We are saddened that he can only leave dear memories with his family, but we are eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind,” D’Angelo’s loved ones continued. 

“We ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time but invite you all join us in mourning his passing while also celebrating the gift of song that he has left for the world,” they concluded.

Born in Richmond, Virginia, on Feb. 11, 1974, D’Angelo released his debut studio album, “Brown Sugar,” in July 1995.

The R&B icon went on to drop his second album, “Voodoo,” in 2000. It debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 and won the Grammy for Best R&B Album in 2001.

“Untitled (How Does It Feel),” the album’s single, won the Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance that same year.

D’Angelo released his third and final album, “Black Messiah,” in 2014. The record and its lead single, “Really Love,” scored the artist two more Grammys.

D’Angelo battled alcoholism and drug abuse, however, and his struggle with his status as a sex symbol was highlighted in the 2019 documentary “Devil’s Pie,” directed by Dutch filmmaker Carine Bijlsma.

The singer’s struggles were further portrayed in Questlove’s 2025 documentary “Sly Lives!” about Sly and the Family Stone.

“The origin of his personal story is literally being a chosen one – being a fifth or sixth or seventh wheel in a situation in which he was not even looking or asking for what he got, and yet he was chosen,” Questlove, referring to D’Angelo, told Variety back in February.

“Yeah, guilt is probably the No. 1 emotion,” he added.

Questlove told Rolling Stone last year that D’Angelo was preparing to release his fourth album.

“Nothing is official,” Questlove, 54, said of the album. “We spoke the day after Bonnaroo, and he said, ‘I’m so happy.’ I said, ‘Now you just turn in your damn record. Just finish. Just turn it in. Let your children go already.’”