Sad news to report….

Legendary film and music video director Diane Martel has passed away.

Her family confirmed her death Martel died on Thursday, Sept. 18 following a breast cancer diagnosis. “Diane passed away peacefully at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital – surrounded by friends and family – after a long battle with breast cancer,” her family said in a statement via Rolling Stone.

Throughout her career, she worked with artists, directing iconic music videos that defined generations and became pop culture milestones.

Ciara paid tribute to Martel in an Instagram post on Friday, Sept. 19. “You believed in me and I believed in you! You will forever hold a special place in my heart and I am forever grateful for all the magic we’ve were able to make together,” she captioned a series of clips from her music videos.

“I know it was all God! Heaven has just gained an Angel. I love you so much @DianeMartel_ A.k.a. Miss D! Rest In Paradise ❤️.”

Most recently, Ciara, 39, worked with Martel on the “Ecstasy” music video, which was released in April.

Vanessa Bryant also honored the music video director, sharing a post from September 2021 on her Instagram Stories with a heart emoji and a broken heart emoji.

“Dinner with my Nani and @dianemartel_ or as my husband used to call her… D-Z Marteezy 😘❤️,” Bryant, 43, wrote. “It was so good to see you D.!!! You’re so talented. All your fav videos were created by “Bucky Chrome”. 🎥🥰”

If you don’t know her or familiar with this iconic film and video extraordinaire, you ARE familiar with her work.

Here are a few all-time great music videos directed by Diane Martel. RIP😢:

ONYX – Throw Ya G*nz
Method Man – Bring The Pain
Lords Of The Underground – Chief Rocka
Gang Starr – Mass Appeal
Keith Murray – The Most Beautifullest Thing in This World
Redman – Can’t Wait
ODB – Brooklyn Zoo
Method Man featuring Mary J Blige ‘I’ll Be There For You’
Method Man & Redman – How High
LL Cool J – 4,3,2,1
Mariah Carey featuring Bone Thugs – Breakdown
The Beatnuts – Watch Out Now
Prodigy – Keep It Thoro
N.E.R. D.- Lapdance
Khia – My Neck, My Back
Clipse – Grindin
Jennifer Lopez – Get Right (Remix) featuring Fabolous
Robin Thick – Blurred Lines featuring T.I.
Omarion – Touch

Martel, born on May 7, 1962, in New York, dropped out of high school and became involved in the performing arts, working as a dancer and choreographer. She began directing with the 1992 PBS documentary Reckin’ Shop: Live From Brooklyn. It led to her first music video directing credit, “Throw Ya Gunz” for rap group Onyz.

Two years later, she directed Mariah Carey‘s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” music video.

Her other credits include Beyoncé‘s “Listen,” Justin Timberlake‘s “Like I Love You,” The Killers‘ “Read My Mind,” Christina Aguilera‘s “Genie in a Bottle,” Alicia Keys‘ “Brand New Me,” The White Stripes‘s “Conquest”, Pink‘s “Just Give Me a Reason,” Addison Rae‘s “Obsessed,” and Adam Lambert‘s “Whataya Want from Me.” She also worked closely with Miley Cyrus on several projects.

Per Martel’s family, the director is “survived by her Aunt, Gail Merrifield Papp (wife of Joseph Papp, founder of The Public Theatre), her three beloved, loyal cats (Poki, PopPop, PomPom) and many loving lifetime friends.”