Charli XCX, Alex Kapranos, Ciara and more lead tributes to legendary music video director Diane Martel: “A great artist”

Tributes have been shared after the death of legendary music video director Diane Martel, who has died.

The iconic director worked alongside some of the biggest names in music, including Mariah Carey, The Killers, Miley Cyrus, Beyoncé, Pharrell, and Justin Timberlake over the years, helping to helm visuals for some of their most successful tracks.

In a statement from her family, it was confirmed that Martel died yesterday (Thursday September 18), aged 63.

“Diane passed away peacefully at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital – surrounded by friends and family – after a long battle with breast cancer,” it read.

“She 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.”

Tributes have been coming in across social media too, with artists she worked alongside and fans sharing posts paying their respects to the late director.

Sharing a post on Instagram Stories, Charli XCX said: “R.I.P Diane. You are one in a million. You taught me so much about art and spontaneity and chaos. And thank you for introducing me to so many friends who I’m now so close to. Thank you for inspiring me. Thank you for everything.”

Charli XCX tribute to Diane Martel. CREDIT: Charli XCX/ Instagram Stories

Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos shared a post with the caption: “It’s too soon for me to properly comprehend this. I’m just numb. She was a great artist and if you’re curious about her work, just google her and you’ll spend hours discovering the incredible work she made.”

“What you won’t learn about is what an astonishing human being she was. A massive support for me in so many ways, as well as being the smartest, wittiest companion. The source of the finest understanding of all art forms from the highest to the lowest,” he added, explaining how their friendship goes back over 20 years. “I’d never met anyone like her before. Fearless and intellectually ravenous, while being rooted to the street. I’m so fortunate that I knew her. Could call her my friend.”

The last music video Martel directed was for Ciara’s song ‘Ecstasy’, and in a new tribute, the singer shared: “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 were able to make together”.

Find more tributes below.

A masterful storyteller and visual savant, Diane Martel provided the moving pictures that accompanied some of the most important music of the culture and then some. And this doesn't even scratch the surface.

A whole icon. May she rest peacefully. https://t.co/r0JaTNTe8R pic.twitter.com/1eLMazXDMT

— Dee Phunk (@DeePhunk) September 19, 2025

I instantly thought of Ciara when hearing of Diane Martel’s passing. Ecstasy appears to be her last credit. I always think of them as a creative duo, considering how iconic their catalog together is, They raised me, I fear music videos will never be as significant again. pic.twitter.com/O2XHyUITrK

— Storm (@Stormviking010) September 19, 2025

RIP DIANE MARTEL
Definitely in the conversation for one of the best music video directors ever pic.twitter.com/5SPtsCOiHc

— ProfessorMike (@TheProfessorMJ) September 19, 2025

sadly Miley Cyrus iconic creative director Diane Martel who produced iconic videos like We can’t stop, malibu, younger now and Bangerz Tour just passed aqua at the age 63. RIP Diane pic.twitter.com/B96NUA7MPg

— MileyUpdates (@MileyUpdates) September 19, 2025

damn this is sad, diane martel directed some of the most memorable music videos during an era when music videos were almost as important as the songs themselves—also she directed the keep it thoro video so she’s a legend off that alone.. what a loss

pic.twitter.com/8We01CYn0o https://t.co/bDxImfor5i

— benny gesserit (@ben_is_like) September 18, 2025

Diane Martel raised a generation with her videos. Wow. https://t.co/Tp9jDYeZzb

— ERIC LAMONT (@EricUnedited) September 19, 2025

RIP Diane Martel.

one of the best music video directors of all time. We all grew up on her work. Some of the most iconic videos for three straight decades.

She directed two Justin Timberlake in two iconic videos: Like I Love You and Love Sex Magic with Ciara. https://t.co/VjMqIo0RRe pic.twitter.com/SmTkU1KEG0

— Blocky Timberlake (@timberflame) September 19, 2025

rest in peace diane martel, forever iconic pic.twitter.com/FEhyeocont

— ‎emma ⎕ (@emmanoacf) September 19, 2025

The first music video Martel directed was for hardcore hip-hop group Onyx’s ‘Throw Ya Guns’ back in 1992, and Rolling Stone highlights that she also went on to work with other huge names in the New York rap scene including Method Man, Gang Starr, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, LL Cool J, and Keith Murray.

She also had credits working on film projects and getting involved in dance and choreography, and went on to work closely with Mariah Carey over the years – directing videos for ‘My All’, ‘Dreamlover’ and ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’.

Other huge songs she made music videos for include ‘Like I Love You’ and ‘Love Sex Magic’ by Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera’s ‘Genie in a Bottle’ and ‘What A Girl Wants’, Alicia Keys’ ‘If I Ain’t Got You’, Addison Rae’s ‘Obsessed’, The White Stripes’ ‘Conquest’, The Killers’ ‘Read My Mind’, and Britney Spears’ ‘3’.

She was also behind the two controversial 2013 videos for Robin Thicke (‘Blurred Lines’) and Miley Cyrus’ ‘We Can’t Stop’. For Miley, she also served as the creative director for the divisive performance at the 2013 MTV VMAs, and held that same role for the ‘Bangerz’ tour.

She was nominated for Best Direction at the VMAs in 2005, up for the award with Francis Lawrence for Jennifer Lopez’s song ‘Get Right’.

Martel turned her sights to other projects over the past five years. In 2022, she was named the Harlan J. Strauss Visiting Filmmaker at the University of Oregon and led a series of community events there.

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