A cause of death has been revealed for Sharon Chuter, the founder of inclusive beauty brand Uoma Beauty, who died in August at 38.
According to a new report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Chuter died from blunt traumatic injuries. The death, which occurred on Chuter’s patio, was listed as an accident, though the case remains open. The report also revealed that Chuter was suffering from schizoaffective disorder, which, according to the Mayo Clinic, is marked by a mix of schizophrenia and mood disorder symptoms.
Chuter died on Aug. 14, according to the Medical Examiner. Uoma Beauty addressed the death of its founder and former CEO in an Instagram post on Monday, Aug. 25, calling the news “deeply saddening.”
“Our thoughts and condolences go out to her family & loved ones during this difficult time,” the post said.
In 2023, she stepped down as CEO of the company, which was then acquired by MacArthur Beauty, BrainTrust Fund and Settle Funding.
“I’ve been pouring into others, now to pour into me and mostly to spend time with my favorite person in the world (ME),” Chuter wrote in the Instagram post at the time. “I’ve missed me. I feel beautiful when I feel free and I’m taking back charge of my life and liberating myself to learn the meaning of healthy detachment.”
Before her death, Chuter cut ties with Uoma, stepping down from her post and later suing the company that acquired it.
In February, Chuter filed a lawsuit against MacArthur Beauty, BrainTrust Fund and Settle Funding, alleging the companies pushed her out of the business while she was on medical leave, “deceitfully and unlawfully” stealing the business she built, according to court documents.Chuter alleged that entire company departments and employees were removed without her notice during her medical leave. However, in July 2023, leadership left the company, essentially shutting down the business, according to court documents. In the aftermath, she was allegedly offered a “lowball” amount for the purchase of her company shares, which she refused, according to court documents.
In June 2020, amid the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests, Chuter started the hashtag, #PullUpOrShutUp. The challenge asked corporations to go beyond posting a black square on their social media feeds to publicly share the number of Black employees in their organizations and leadership, according to the Pull Up For Change website. Over the course of one week, more than 300 companies released their diversity reports, the website continues.
Now a nationwide initiative, Pull Up For Change focuses on economic equality, corporate transparency and Black enterprise. In 2021, Pull Up For Change donated $370,000 worth of grants to eight Black individuals interested in founding their own businesses, according to the Pull Up For Change website.
Contributing: Greta Cross