As the surprise passing of Christopher "Big Black" Boykin spreads across the world, many fans and celebrities are taking to the web sharing their fond memories regarding his life. Professional skateboarder and one-half of the reality series Rob And Big Rob Dyrdek took to Twitter to share a tribute upon learning the news of his friend's passing:
For those who may not have seen or don't remember much of Rob And Big, the whole premise of the series was that Rob Dyrdek hired Big Black to be his personal body guard, so that he could skate where he wanted to without having to deal with security guards and fans. The two would develop a friendship and, with their bull dog Meaty and mini horse, would spend each episode doing whacky things like performing motion capture for Skate 2 or getting a ghost out of the house. Both Dyrdek and Big Black would admit the show (which ran 3 seasons) caused a strain on their relationship, and the two would often have big fights over decisions regarding the show, only to film a segment together only moments later.
Rob And Big ended in 2008 ,with Big Black exiting upon learning his longtime girlfriend was having a child, and Dyrdek later stating that he personally was burnt out.
While Rob Dyrdek and Christopher "Big Black" Boykin did have a falling out, both stars would remain affiliated with the MTV brand. Eventually, the two appeared to have publicly mended the bridge in 2011, when Big Black would join Season 4 of Dyrdek's popular show at the time Fantasy Factory. Dyrdek also had Boykin on his show Snack Off as well as Ridiculousness for a few episodes. Boykin's appearances on Ridiculousness proved "big" enough to elicit reactions from regular co-hosts Chanel West Coast and Sterling "Steelo" Brim.
Rob Dyrdek has since memorialized his friend on his Instagram and Twitter, while Boykin's Instagram features a throwback post from March with Big Black reminiscing on Rob And Big. No cause of death has been officially released regarding Christopher "Big Black" Boykin's passing, although it is believed he had a heart attack. It's also important to note that Rob Dyrdek and Big Black mended the bridge before his untimely passing, and that the two seemed to be as close as they once were on Rob And Big.
Rob Dyrdek's show Ridiculousness is currently airing Season 9 Fridays at 8 p.m. on MTV. Tune in for a new episode, and check out the other programming debuting this week and next with guide right here. Also be sure to keep track of your favorite shows and whether they are renewed or canceled with our other handy guide.
