Celebrities react to the death of Dick Gregory

As the world learned about legendary comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory's death Saturday night, reaction flooded social media, with many taking to Twitter to pay their respects.

"Humanity has lost a Giant. RIP my dear friend," Cicely Tyson tweeted.

Samuel L. Jackson hailed Gregory as a "5-star general" in the war for human rights.

Nick Cannon shared a photo of himself with Gregory on Instagram. "You lived one of the most incredible and meaningful lives of our time," Cannon wrote. 

"You taught us and loved us. Thank you, #DickGregory," wrote director Ava DuVernay, sharing a screenshot of a recent comment Gregory posted on Instagram. 

"Dick Gregory, Truth teller, make you fall on your face laughing Comedian, health man before it was cool & crazy expensive unapologetic," tweeted Whoopi Goldberg. "About being black in America Dick Gregory has passed away, Condolences to his family and to us who won't have his insight 2 lean on R.I.P." 

"I've known Dick Gregory since I was 16 years old," wrote the Rev. Al Sharpton. "A true, committed, and consistent freedom fighter. May he Rest In Peace."

"He taught us how to laugh. He taught us how to fight. He taught us how to live. Dick Gregory was committed to justice. I miss him already. #RIP," tweeted the Rev. Jesse Jackson. 

"Dick Gregory lived an amazing, revolutionary life. A groundbreaker in comedy and a voice for justice. RIP," wrote singer John Legend. 

"Heaven just got funnier RIP #DickGregory," wrote comedian DL Hughley. 

"RIP Dick Gregory. Great comedian. Great American," tweeted comedian Jim Gaffigan. 

 Gregory was 84.