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Carrot Top returned to the stage for the first time since his suicide attempt and didn’t dance around it — telling the crowd it’s been a “month of reflection” and turning his recent struggles into material.
The popular comedian, 61, took the stage in front of a sold-out crowd at the Luxor Hotel & Casino on Monday night.
The stand-up staple, whose real name is Scott Thompson, said it was an “emotional night” for him and joked that the people in the front row were the first ones to get tickets because “they’re the ones who cared the most,” video obtained by Page Six shows.
“The middle section was like, ‘He’s alright,’” Thompson quipped. “The back row’s like, ‘What happened?! What the f–k he do?!’”
“It’s true! Some people have no idea what I’ve done,” he said, alluding to his suicide attempt last month.
Thompson said it was tough figuring out “what was appropriate” for his first set back, then walked over to his famous trunk of props and pulled out a noose.
“This would probably not be appropriate,” he said, holding up the rope as the audience erupted in laughter.
The prop comic then pulled out another noose with a rubber chicken hanging from the end.
He thanked the crowd and joked that it was the first time in his career he had no idea what to talk about, as an image of an elephant with red hair — a nod to the elephant in the room — popped up on the large screen behind him.
His comeback appeared to be a hit — another video showed the crowd erupting in applause as he scurried offstage at the end of his set.
Thompson announced his return to the stage via Instagram on Saturday while addressing his suicide attempt for the first time.
“I’m truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, support, prayers, and well wishes I’ve received over the past couple of weeks,” he wrote in a statement.
“Every message, text, and kind thought has meant more to me than you know.”
Thompson reassured that while he hasn’t “been able to respond to everyone individually,” he’s felt their “love,” and expressed his appreciation “from the bottom of [his] heart.”
“Thank you for being there for me during this time. It truly means the world to me!” he added.
Thompson was hospitalized on Sept. 18th after he was found unconscious near a pool at his Las Vegas home.
At the time, police were performing a welfare check after Thompson’s manager called him regarding an article with sexual misconduct allegations against him that was to be published.
Thompson’s manager told officers that his client was distressed on the phone and texted him “done” shortly after hanging up, per a police report obtained by Page Six.
Thompson was hospitalized until around Sept. 26, when he was approved to continue his recovery at home. He stepped out for the first time for a church service on Oct. 4.
Thompson’s suicide attempt was amid his ongoing legal battle with Bryan Evans, his former show opener. Evans allegedly threatened to leak a sexually explicit video of Thompson if he wasn’t paid a hefty settlement of $500,000.
Evans denied the allegations to Page Six, telling us that he “never threatened — ever — to post any video anywhere in exchange for a settlement” and claimed the video was “deleted a long time ago.”
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.