Red, White and Royal Blue dedication honors Taylor Zakhar Perez’s sister Kristy

Red, White and Royal Blue has finally premiered on Amazon Prime Video, and it’s an occasion that’s overwhelmingly exciting for fans of Casey McQuiston’s best-selling book. But it’s also a bittersweet time for star Taylor Zakhar Perez.

The actor, who had a breakthrough moment in Netflix’s The Kissing Booth 2 and the first season of Minx, landed his first leading movie role in Red, White and Royal Blue, a deserving moment for the multi-talented and dedicated actor.

Prior to the film’s release, Zakhar Perez shared on Instagram in June about the passing of his oldest sister Kristy, honoring her with a long and heartfelt memorial. In the post, he expressed that she had been so excited to watch him shine in Red, White and Royal Blue and he “can’t imagine it premiering without her.”

Who is Kristy in the Red, White and Royal Blue dedication?

Following the end credits scene, the very final frame of the movie features a dedication reading: “For Kristy.” It’s beautiful that director Matthew López, Zakhar Perez, and the team behind the movie honored his sister in this way, knowing that she never had the chance to watch her brother’s leading role.

In his June 4 post on Instagram, the actor shared a photo of him with Kristy in 1993 at their father’s auto-body shop in Chicago. Along with the photo, Zakhar Perez wrote an amazing message to and about his sister. She passed away at 44 years old of stage 4 colorectal cancer, survived by a husband, three kids, and a loving family.

On Aug. 10, Zakhar Perez’s sister Ashley shared a post of the actor’s family members attending a screening of the movie together and taking a photo in front of the “For Kristy” dedication. The caption of the post reads: “Sweet @taylorzakharperez dedicated the movie to our Kristy.” We know that must have been so special for Taylor to include, to have his sister part of the film.

Read Taylor Zakhar Perez’s tribute to his sister Kristy in his post below.

Zakhar Perez honors his sister as someone who inspired him, who he looked up to for support and love. He urged his followers to “insist on more than just routine check ups,” as Kristy had no preexisting conditions. It’s also a reminder that no matter what someone’s Instagram might look like, you never know what they could be going through or still going through.

On behalf of the Hidden Remote and Red, White and Royal Blue communities, our continued condolences go out to Taylor Zakhar Perez and his family.