What happened to Aziza Barnes? Snowfall, Game of Thrones spinoff writer dies aged 32 

Netflix’s Teenage Bounty Hunters writer Aziza Barnes has died at 32. Their family confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter, who reported that they died by suicide on December 15. Further details regarding the tragedy were not made public at the time of writing this article.

Aziza “Z” Barnes’ family said in their official statement that the “beloved artist, child, sibling and friend” had died. They added:

“Z has touched and inspired countless individuals both in their community and industry and will be deeply missed and endlessly loved by all who were fortunate to have experienced their presence and work. An incomparable talent, we look for understanding in Z’s words, and wish comfort and understanding as we grieve this loss.”

For those uninitiated, Aziza Barnes was the writer behind the upcoming Game of Thrones prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which is to be released next year, Snowfall, and Max’s Rap Sh*t, among others.

She also was the brain behind the aforementioned Netflix comedy series.

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Where did Aziza Barnes study? More about the writer as they tragically pass away

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Aziza Banks was born in October 1992 in Los Angeles. They graduated with a bachelor’s of fine arts degree from New York University before pursuing their master’s in fine arts degree at the University of Mississippi.

Apart from establishing themselves as a successful figure in the Hollywood writer’s circuit, Aziza Barnes published their own full-length collections, including the blind pig and i be but i ain’t, which went on to win a Pamet River Prize.

They are also the author of me Aunt Jemima and the nailgun, which won the Exploding Pinecone Prize from Button Poetry. Speaking about their passion for poetry, they said in an interview with Vice:

“Poems will not save your life. But what poems can do at best is provide you a roadmap so that you can save your life. They're just little maps. If you're listening to yourself—if you're trusting yourself.”

Barnes also wrote their first play BLKS back in 2017, which debuted in Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater. The actors included Nora Carroll, Leea Ayers, Danielle Davis and Celeste M. Cooper.

Barnes themselves acted in the sequel, FKA I Am a Bad Blk Person, in June 2024.

Safia Elhillo, who claims to be a “longtime” friend of Barnes, posted a tribute to Aziza Barnes on Substack. Safia described them as a “brilliant writer” who is a “bender of the genre who died too soon.”

They also wrote online that they left “an entire community behind, gathered in grief.”

While at NYU, Aziza was a member of their Poetry Slam Team and The Dance Cartel. They were also part of the Divine Fabrics collective.

Barnes has also been the editor of Kinfolks Quarterly and a cofounder of the Poetry Gods podcast.

Some of their other accolades include the Tangerine Award, an NYU Grey Art Gallery Prize, and an Emerging Poets fellowship from the Poets House.

Barnes was living in Oxford, Mississippi, at the time of their passing.