Stephanie ‘Tanqueray’ Johnson, One Of The Most Viral Humans of New York Features, Dies at 81
Stephanie “Tanqueray” Johnson, arguably the world’s most interesting woman, who became a viral subject on the digital franchise, Humans Of New York, has passed away at the age of 81, after suffering a severe stroke. Tanqueray’s death was confirmed via the Humans of New York platform which posted a tribute to the legend that said everything:
<em>“We’ve lost a legend. Stephanie ‘Tanqueray’ Johnson passed away last night after suffering a severe stroke. She will be most remembered for holding the world in thrall with her no-holds-barred storytelling about life as a burlesque dancer in the 1970’s. Stephanie was a complicated person. Her public persona was irresistibly charismatic. Yet behind the scenes I’ve rarely met somebody who had such difficulty with close relationships. She was internationally adored, yet intensely lonely. She was desirous of companionship, yet quick to cut people out of her life over the smallest slights. </em>
<em>Stephanie told me endless stories about how badly her mother treated her as a child, yet remained capable of exhibiting that same behavior toward others. People are complicated. And the longer you live, the more you realize the most inexcusable behavior often stems from the saddest traumas. There was always a little girl inside of Stephanie who never had a chance to feel safe. A little girl who learned at a young age that the best way to keep from getting hurt was to throw the first punch. But this little girl also had such a love of life. And despite her X-rated stories, and her sharp edges, was capable of such innocence. Stephanie slept with a teddy bear until the day she died. She’d melt in the presence of animals and babies. And until the very end, she laughed like a little girl. </em>
<em>In the final weeks of her life all the hard edges melted away. All the defense mechanisms, the learned responses. She reverted back to the little girl she’d been before she’d gotten hurt. And that is the Stephanie that is smiling down on us right now. In her own words: ‘When I get to heaven I hope God shows me a movie of my life. But just the funny parts. Not the in-between parts, cause then we’d both start crying. Underneath all the laughs and the gags, it was always about one thing: survival. Tanqueray was a lot of fun. But Tanqueray was Stephanie. And Stephanie was a teenage runaway from Albany: doing what she needed to do, and being who she needed to be, to get what she needed to get.” I love ya, Steph. Thanks for taking me, and all of us, on the greatest ride of our lives.”</em>
And she did! Tanqueray’s tales delighted people all over the world. Through Humans of New York, she shared candid reflections about her past, including her time as a burlesque dancer. “My stripper name was Tanqueray. Back in the seventies I was the only black girl making white girl money. I danced in so many mob clubs that I learned Italian,” she infamously shared.
Her story touched many because she embraced her age while refusing to let society silence her voice or the vitality she carried. “Aging is just living,” Tanqueray shared with Humans of New York. She even shared that at 70-years-old, she’d still dance two nights a week.
Tanqueray is remembered for her resilience, humor, and willingness to share her life. In partnership with Humans of New York founder Brandon Stanton, Johnson released a deeply touching memoir in 2022. Her legacy will live on forever.
Posted as a comment on Tanqueray’s tribute post, Humans Of New York shared, “On Friday [Oct. 18th] night between 8 PM and midnight, the main concourse of Grand Central will transform into a tribute to Stephanie’s life.”
