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Fan: Prince represents our future
01:10 - Source: CNN

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Fans flock to social media to share grief over Prince's death

"Oh, no, seriously, Prince?! No. I can't handle another artist lost this year," one Twitter user wrote

CNN  — 

Prince’s sudden death Thursday in Minnesota prompted an outpouring of grief and disbelief from fans on social media, as the words of his hit song, “Let’s Go Crazy” found new meaning among lifelong fans mourning the passing of a musical legend.

As the news broke, reactions seemed to follow the classic stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining and depression. Acceptance, it seemed, might need to wait.

Denial

It began as word of a death was just beginning to trickle in, not yet fully confirmed, enough for fans to hang on to a sliver of hope.

Anger

It didn’t take long for fans to begin to feel the anger of losing yet another legend.

Bargaining

Please, can’t we make a deal? Can’t it be some other way?

Depression

Finally, the sadness took hold …

But the party must go on, some argued.

CNN’s Emmanuella Grinberg contributed to this report.