'The doves are really crying now': Celebs, Twitterati mourn Prince's death

Legendary funk master Prince’s sudden death came just a week after the enigmatic Grammy and Oscar winner was taken to a hospital with a flu-like illness.

The news prompted a flood of tributes from the worlds of entertainment and politics, from Barack Obama to Madonna and Mick Jagger, as well as ordinary fans – and even a tweet from NASA of a purple nebula, in Prince’s signature color.

Prince was a master rebel. He rebelled against all social norms related to music, gender, and style and brought his unique brand of performance with every song. Perhaps this famous story of the time visited the MTV office best describes Prince’s persona.

In 1993, he visited the office of the music channel that is touted to have grown with Prince’s legacy. There was no real agenda behind his visit; a feat uncommon of music stars of the time. When Judy McGrath, the then CEO of MTV networks, asked him “What should we call you?” (after he changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol at the time) he said, “call me what I am.”

And so, while the world grieves, and Prince’s guitar gently weeps, Twitterati was flooded with tributes, sad emojis and hundreds and thousands of quotable Prince quotes:

No April Fool’s joke, this

damn prince really died.

— lil money shot (@KolbyDelce) April 22, 2016

Purple rain @NewYorker cover. #prince pic.twitter.com/y4hMqUSjvG

— Tara Skurtu (@TaraSkurtu) April 22, 2016

Celebs speak

Y do v scream at each other…this is wot it sounds like when doves cry.Memories entwined in his songs. RIP Purple 1 formerly known as Prince

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) April 21, 2016

Today, nothing exists but #Prince. Musicians always speak of his guitar-playing with hushed awe. Here's why. https://t.co/5hJ7UeMml5

— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) April 22, 2016

I'm moved by this love for a great artist. #PRINCE His music.His style.I'm listening to his records. Vinyl. Hearing is music as he intended.

— Lee Pace (@leepace) April 22, 2016

I'm not kidding, I taught my son 'Arms Of Orion' on the piano yesterday... Talk about a man who ACTUALLY empowered women #Prince

— Minnie Driver TICKLESS WONDER (@driverminnie) April 21, 2016

Legendary Prince is dead!! How tragic! #soundtrackofmylife

— Vanessa Williams (@VWOfficial) April 21, 2016

Numb. Stunned. This can't be real.

— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) April 21, 2016

Unbelievable just heard about PRINCE. Strength and light to his family/loved ones. One of my favs and a true pioneering artist. RIP brotha.

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) April 21, 2016

Prince the doves really are crying now. Listening to your music. Remembering you. #RIPPrince

— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) April 21, 2016

i can't believe what's happening right now. i just woke up but it feels like I'm dreaming. we live in a world where Prince passes away???

— Abel Tesfaye (@theweeknd) April 21, 2016

I'm Crushed!! UK news reporting Prince Is Dead?! For Real?! Massive Loss for us all! What a Genius! Speechless.

— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) April 21, 2016

How the world is coping

A purple City Hall dome to honor a brilliant artist. #Prince pic.twitter.com/KdhyovfPdx

— Stephanie (SRB) (@MayorSRB) April 22, 2016

This is incredible - all ages, races dancing together on this packed street to #Prince. Quite the @SpikeLee joint pic.twitter.com/u9T8pB58mW

— Richard Madan (@RichardMadan) April 22, 2016

The Zakim Bridge is purple tonight as Boston remembers #Prince pic.twitter.com/HJfX85B1dE

— Brad Tatum (@BradTatum) April 22, 2016

Only way to go. #Prince pic.twitter.com/Pod2r7vJ6a

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 22, 2016

#Minneapolis bridges are purple tonight for #Prince pic.twitter.com/Tc7tjMyu5o

— MarieFranceRemillard (@MFRemillard) April 21, 2016

RIP

On time. #Prince #PrinceRIP pic.twitter.com/wQuWVFQYcc

— PRM (C.Leonard) 🌻🌻🌻 (@PrisonReformMvt) April 21, 2016