Carrot Top returned to Instagram Saturday with a message for his fans, marking the comedian’s first comments after a Sept. 18 suicide attempt and hospitalization.
“I’m truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, support, prayers, and well wishes I’ve received over the past couple of weeks. Every message, text, and kind thought has meant more to me than you know,” posted the 61-year-old comedian, whose real name is Scott Thompson. “While I haven’t been able to respond to everyone individually, please know that I’ve felt your love and appreciate each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for being there for me during this time. It truly means the world to me!”
He closed the caption with an orange heart, and by some news that he will return to the stage at Luxor Hotel & Casino on Oct. 19 for the 8 p.m. show. He has a residency at the MGM property. Notable names flooded the comments section with words of support, including stand-up superstar Jay Mohr who wrote “LOVE LOVE LOVE.” Emmy winner Hannah Einbinder wrote, “Love you Scott,” while songwriter Sarah Hudson also wrote, “Love you.”
The post comes after two public appearances alongside his mother at a local Las Vegas church, on both Oct. 4 and Oct. 11. Paparazzi images surfaced from the outings but he had not yet made any statements regarding his health or what happened amid the mental health crisis beyond what his publicist had shared with media outlets including TMZ.
“Mr. Thompson is currently recovering, surrounded by his family and those closest to him. His focus is on his health and recovery, and we ask that his privacy be respected at this time,” his rep told TMZ as part of a published report by the outlet that included allegations of extortion over sexually explicit content featuring Carrot Top. Per TMZ, a rep for Carrot Top alleged that a man named Brian Evans had threatened to file a “sexually explicit recording on a USB drive depicting the comedian into a court’s legal docket…unless he was paid $500,000 as a settlement.”
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