“I Just Want to Hug My Daddy”: Heartbreaking Moment as DJ Warras’ Young Son Breaks Down at Memorial Service

The memorial service for Warrick “DJ Warras” Stock on December 19, 2025, at The Galleria in Sandton was filled with tributes celebrating his life as a fearless media personality, devoted father, and outspoken advocate. Yet, amid the speeches from colleagues and family, the most shattering moment came from one of his young sons, whose innocent cry of longing reduced the packed venue to stunned silence and tears.

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Flanked by his brothers, the boy—overwhelmed by grief—expressed a simple, devastating wish: to hug his daddy one more time. The words, raw and childlike, captured the profound personal loss behind the public tragedy, reminding everyone that Warras, 40, was not just “The Shady Lurker” on radio and podcasts, but a loving father to three young sons suddenly left without him.

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Eldest son Ethan led the siblings’ tribute, battling tears as he called his father “my hero, my inspiration, my rock and my foundation.” He described Warras as a man who spoiled them, treated everyone with respect, and acted with “pure love.” The younger brothers’ emotional breakdown, particularly the poignant plea for a final embrace, underscored the unbearable weight of their loss at such tender ages.

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The service drew celebrities like Pearl Thusi (whose daughter Thando also spoke tearfully), Sizwe Dhlomo, and DJ PH, alongside family and fans. Warras’s sister Nicole highlighted his divergent thinking and refusal to ignore societal ills, while colleagues praised his big personality and mentorship. Yet, the children’s raw vulnerability transformed the celebration of life into a haunting confrontation with senseless violence.

Warras was assassinated on December 16 in Johannesburg’s CBD, reportedly linked to his efforts reclaiming hijacked buildings—a cause that had earned him threats. As mourners processed to a celebration event, the boy’s cry lingered: a stark reminder that no child should endure such irreversible absence. The nation, already outraged by the murder, grieves deeper for the father stolen from his sons, whose innocent words echo the cruelty of a life cut far too short.