Prince suffered from ongoing sore throats and an upset stomach, the singer’s personal chef said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Ray Roberts cooked for Prince nearly every day for almost three years, and he began to notice changes in the musician’s diet, such as eating less and drinking less water. He also looked like he was losing weight, the wire service reported Sunday.
“It felt like he wasn’t himself probably the last month or two,” Roberts said. “I think he was just struggling with being sick a lot.”
The singer, who reportedly was treated for an overdose of the opioid painkiller Percocet days before his April 21 death, had painkillers in his possession when he died, according to reports. Prince, known for hits including “1999,” “Raspberry Beret” and “Little Red Corvette,” was found unresponsive in a Paisley Park elevator and declared dead at age 57.
Roberts told the AP that although Prince normally enjoyed dishes such as roasted beets and minestrone soup, he preferred smoothies and fresh juices to soothe his throat and stomach, as he seemingly became less robust for “weeks at a time.”
Roberts and his wife began cooking for Prince in 2013 and made his meals in the restaurant-grade kitchen at Paisley Park, the AP reported. Roberts said he saw Prince nearly every day.
Meantime, the temporary administrator of Prince’s estate has drilled into the vault containing his treasure trove of unreleased music. Bremer Trust opened the vault containing the material by force, ABC affiliate KSTP-TV reported. Prince was the only person who had the code to the vault.