Wrestling icon Ric Flair shared an emotional statement following the death of his stepson Sebastian Kidder Sunday.
Sebastian took his own life over the weekend at the age of 24 with his mother, Wendy Barlow, confirming his heartbreaking death Sunday.
Following the tragic news, the 75-year-old WWE Hall of Famer broke his silence Sunday night in a saddening statement.
‘I Have Spent Hours Wondering What To Say. After Hearing The News Of Sebastian’s Passing, I Can Only Imagine What Wendy & Paul Are Going Through Having Lost A Son Approximately The Same Age In 2013,’ Flair wrote in part of a post.
‘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 later wrote. ‘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.’
Sebastian Kidder, the stepson of WWE legend Ric Flair, has died of suicide at the age of 24
The 75-year-old WWE Hall of Famer broke his silence in an emotional statement Sunday night
Flair added a touching message to Sebastian’ mother Wendy as he continued to pay tribute to his stepson.
”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,’ he wrote.
Wendy had confirmed Sebastian’s death to TMZ Sports , saying: ‘I am devastated and shocked. This is an epidemic with your young men. And mental health.’
Sebastian was discovered on Saturday afternoon in Georgia with a gunshot wound, with police investigating, according to TMZ.
He posed on his Instagram on Saturday, sharing a selfie and a picture of himself posing with his guitar.
‘There are no words to express the pain I am feeling from the loss of my Baby @sebastianonthemic,’ his mom, Wendy shared to Instagram Sunday afternoon. ‘Mommy Loves you.’
Last month, Flair and Wendy announced they had split up after six years of marriage.
Sebastian was a musician and earlier this year released his first album titled ‘Under The Moon’.
Sebastian pictured alongside stepfather Ric and his mother Wendy, who confirmed his death
Sebastian shared a picture of himself with his guitar on social media on Saturday
Flair himself tweeted of his pride at Sebastian’s first big release, writing on X: ‘Congratulations On The Release Of Your First Album- Under The Moon! I Am So Proud Of You! WOOOOO! Available On All Streaming Platforms!’
Sebastian appeared on Fox5 Atlanta earlier this year to promote his record, saying: ‘It’s actually very romance filled, the core of the album. Very relatable.’
He explained that his mom was behind his music career after hearing him sing a song for a girl he wanted to impress.
‘I recorded the cover and didn’t think anything of it but my mom got ahold of it and started sending it around to people. You get traction and roll with it,’ he said.
As for his relationship with Ric, Sebastian said: ‘A lot of advice for sure (on handling fame). That’s the interesting thing, growing up with Ric as a stepdad was very different, very unique.
‘You go out to a family meal and you are just surrounded by fans, people coming up and wanting pictures. You are already exposed to it from an early age.
‘What kid has Post Malone coming over and having dinner with the family? Darius Rucker pulled up with his big tour bus one time. It was crazy.’
Flair one of the most iconic wrestlers of all time, and Wendy, a retired All-American-ranked professional tennis player, split once before in 2022, only to reconcile a few months later.
WWE icon Flair recently announced he had split from wife Wendy (left), Sebastian’s mother
Sebastian pictured during a television interview about his career earlier this year
‘Wendy and I enjoyed 13 great years,’ Flair wrote in a statement. ‘As with every couple, we have experienced our ups and downs. [But] I think it’s important for everyone to know right now that we have decided to part ways respectfully.
‘I’ll never be able to thank her enough for standing by my side through my terrible health crisis in 2018. She never left my side! And for that I will always be grateful!
‘We both are working on different projects at the current time and it becomes difficult with my schedule and her schedule to make this work.
‘I wish her the best of luck with her projects and I know that she supports mine.’
Wendy was Flair’s fifth wife after his previous marriages to Leslie Goodman, Elizabeth Harrell, Tiffany VanDemark and Jaqueline Beems.