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WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair's stepson, Sebastian Kidder, has died by suicide at the age of 24 on Saturday (October 26), his mother, Wendy Barlow, confirmed to TMZ Sports on Sunday (October 27).
“I am devastated and shocked. This is an epidemic with your young men. And mental health,” Barlow said.
Flair, who had previously lost his son, Reid, from a prior marriage in 2013, shared a lengthy post in tribute to Kidder on his Instagram account Sunday.
"I Have Spent Hours Wondering What To Say. After Hearing The News Of Sebastian’s Passing, I Can Only Imagine What Wendy @thewonderouswendy & Paul Are Going Through Having Lost A Son Approximately The Same Age In 2013," Flair wrote. "I Know The Pain Of Your Loss Will Be With You The Rest Of Your Life. I Still Every Day Of My Life Think About Reid As You Will Continue To Think About Sebastian. You Can’t Blame Yourselves As I Blamed Myself For Making Reid My Best Friend Instead Of Being A Good Parent. Sometimes We Get So Close To Our Kids, We Forget That They Need Us In So Many Different Ways. I’m So Thankful For The Time I Had With Sebastian.
"I Have So Many Great Memories & Bonding Time With Him As He Grew Up! He Stood Tall By His Mother Along With The Whole Family- Sophia, Paris, And Summer, While I Was Dying. He Was So Unselfish Sharing His Mother With Me As I Was Dying. And Also, At The Passing Of My Son Reid. He Was Multi-Talented & In Everybody’s Eyes A Huge Success And Will Always Be Remembered That Way. I’m So Sorry! Wendy, Please Stay Strong & Don’t Let Anything Deter You From All Your Successful Endeavors You Have In Place In The Future. God Bless You Both! Rest In Peace Sebastian! 🙏🏻 @sebastianonthemic."
A police investigation was launched after Kidder was reported to have died from a gunshot wound on Saturday at the family's home in Georgia. Flair, who recently announced that he and Barlow were splitting up after six years of marriage, had been part of Kidder's life prior to his 2018 marriage to his mother, who had previously worked as his valet in WCW during the early 1990s.
Kidder was a musician who had released his debut album 'Under the Moon' and appeared on Good Day Atlanta promoting the album earlier this year.
“[The album was inspired by] a lot of pain, a lot of suffering, a lot of crying in a corner and just hoping that words come out. No, I’m kidding,” Kidder said via Us Weekly. “It’s actually very romance-filled, [that] is probably the core of the album. A lot of sexual energy [and] there’s a lot of lust in there, so something that people can relate to, for sure.”
If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide please call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.