Mick Jagger and designer L'Wren Scott pose on the red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit celebrating the opening of Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, in New York in this May 2, 2011, file photo.Mike Segar/Reuters
Rock icon Mick Jagger has finally spoken out on the death of his longtime girlfriend, fashion designer L'Wren Scott, with a brief but moving online message.
On Tuesday, The Rolling Stones frontman went on Facebook and his personal website to post his reaction to the passing of Scott, who was found dead in her Manhattan apartment the day before.
"I'm struggling to understand how my lover and best friend could end her life in this tragic way," reads Jagger's note. "We spent many wonderful years together and had made a great life for ourselves."
Fittingly, the 70-year-old Jagger lauds his late lover's accomplishments in the sendoff: "She had great presence and her talent was much admired. I have been touched by the tributes that people have paid to her, and also the personal messages of support that I have received."
Jagger signs off the note with a simple, "I will never forget her, Mick."
Jagger and Scott had been a high-profile couple since 2001 and regularly appeared together at fashion shows and red-carpet events.
Her death has prompted Jagger and The Rolling Stones to postpone their scheduled tour of Australia and New Zealand. A message on RollingStones.com said the group was "deeply sorry and disappointed" about the postponements.
"Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood wish to thank all their fans for their support at this difficult time and hope that they will fully understand the reason for this announcement," said the message.
A former model and stylist, Scott, 49, began her own fashion line in 2006 and launched a collection for Banana Republic last year.
A report Tuesday in the New York Times shed possible light on Scott's state of mind in recent days. Former Times fashion writer Cathy Horyn, a friend of Scott's, wrote in an essay posted on the paper's website that the designer had been planning to announce on Wednesday that she was closing her business, apparently due to financial troubles. Horyn wrote that she had learned of that development after Scott's death — and did not say from whom.
Accounts filed by Scott's LS Fashion Ltd. in London show the company had liabilities that exceeded assets by €4.24-million ($6.6-million) as of Dec. 31, 2012.
The international fashion line took to Twitter to register its reaction to Scott's death with the tweet, "We are stunned and saddened to learn of the loss of L'Wren Scott. Our hearts and prayers go out to her friends and family."
Other celebrities eulogizing Scott on Twitter included Jagger's former wife Bianca Jagger, who tweeted, "Heartbroken to learn of the loss of the lovely and talented L'Wren Scott. My thoughts and prayers are with her family. May she rest in peace."
And this tweet from the account representing pop band Duran Duran: "Such sad news. Our condolences are with L'Wren's family and friends."
And actress-singer Bette Midler tweeted, "Just got news of the beautiful L'Wren Scott's death perhaps by her own hand. I am devastated. A rare, wonderful talented soul. Goodbye."
With a report from The Associated Press