Bitter family feud that plagued John Amos' final days as daughter admits she only learned of his death in the media

John Amos' final days were plagued by a bitter family feud between his two children who were fighting over his care. 

John died on August 21 at the age of 84 - but news of his death didn't emerge until October 1. 

His son, Kelly Christopher Amos, had been by his side as he declined. He announced his death on social media and it immediately garnered national headlines. 

That's where his daughter, Shannon, first learned her beloved father had died. 

In a shocking Instagram admission on Wednesday, Shannon said: 'I am without words…Our family has received the heartbreaking news that my Dad, John Allen Amos, Jr., transitioned on August 21st,' Shannon posted to her Instagram. 

'We are devastated and left with many questions about how this happened 45 days ago, learning about it through the media like so many of you.

'This should be a time of honoring and celebrating his life, yet we are struggling to navigate the wave of emotions and uncertainties surrounding his passing. Still, there is some semblance of peace in knowing my father is finally free.

'My family and I deeply appreciate the outpouring of love, calls, and texts. Please continue to hold our family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.'

John's son, Kelly Christopher Amos, announced his father's passing on October 1. The death was also confirmed that day by Amos' publicist Belinda Foster. 

'It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned,' Kelly said in the statement. 

'He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold … and he was loved the world over. Many fans consider him their TV father. He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.' 

John welcomed both Shannon and K.C. during his decade-long marriage to his late ex-wife Noel 'Noni' Mickelson, which ended in 1975. 

A feud has erupted within the Amos family as of late as John's two children publicly fight over his care. 

She previously accused her brother of failing to provide their father with appropriate care as he grappled with health problems.

An investigation was launched into alleged neglect and ultimately closed. TMZ reported that law enforcement concluded that no crime had occurred, or at least there was a lack of evidence to demonstrate anything had happened. 

Law enforcement determined the issue all came from a family dispute.

Last year Amos also accused his daughter of 'elderly abuse' but later said he hoped his family would come together. 

'It is his sibling, that is my daughter, my first child. I love her. K.C. loves his sister. We just have, I guess, what might be best described in the tabloids is an acrimonious relationship, but everything heals in time, and the love is still there,' he told People.  

John died on August 21 in Los Angeles from natural causes, his son said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The actor was best known for his role as Kunta Kinte in the landmark mini series Roots about the African-American experience of slavery. 

Based on a real-life ancestor of author Alex Haley, it tells the story of a young man taken from Gambia and sold as a slave. 

John scored an Emmy nomination for his role in the ABC-TV series which was based on the book by author Alex Haley.

The show became one of America's most watched show in the late 1970s and received 37 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, nine of which it won. 

Announcing his father's death, John's son Chris said in a statement: 'It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned. 

'He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold… and he was loved the world over. 

'Many fans consider him their TV father. He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.' 

A reference to Roots hit Coronation Street back in 2016 after Ofcom launched an investigation into an episode after the soap was accused of racism for a comment a character made about her hair.

The episode saw Eva Price, played by Catherine Tyldesley, visit Audrey's hair salon, where she remarked: 'I have more roots than Kunta Kinte.

'No idea who that is, by the way, just something my mum used to say.' 

Aside from Roots, Amos famously portrayed patriarch James Evans in the first three seasons of CBS' groundbreaking sitcom Good Times, which aired for a total six seasons between 1974-1979.

He also played Gordy the weatherman on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Kunta Kinte in the dramatic miniseries Roots, which earned him an Emmy nomination. 

Amos went on to feature in over 200 TV shows and films, including The West Wing, Coming to America and Me Time. 

The actor infamously left Good Times after three seasons over disagreements with the writing, which he felt leaned into stereotypes of African Americans.

Amos once said: 'I wasn’t the most diplomatic guy in those days, and the show’s producers got tired of having their lives threatened over jokes. 

'So they said, "Tell you what, why don’t we kill him off? We can get on with our lives!" That taught me a lesson — I wasn’t as important as I thought I was to the show or to Norman Lear’s plans.'