WWE star Ric Flair pays an emotional tribute following the suicide of stepson Sebastian Kidder

Professional wrestling legend Ric Flair shared his emotional reaction to the death of his stepson, Sebastian Kidder, who was 24 years old.

Kidder died on Saturday (October 26) by suicide, his mother Wendy Barlow confirmed TMZ. The next day he was 75 years old WWE Hall of Famer Flair (real name Richard Morgan Fliehr) shared a post Instagram reflecting on the untimely death of an emerging musician.

“I spent hours wondering what to say. After hearing the news of Sebastian’s death,” the long caption began. “I can only imagine what Wendy @thewonderouswendy and Paul are going through as they lost their son around the same age in 2013. I know the pain of loss will be with you for the rest of your lives.”

Flair’s son, Reid died in March 2013 at age 25 after an accidental drug overdose. He was found in a hotel room in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“I still think about Reid every day of my life, just like you will think about Sebastian,” he continued. “You can’t blame yourselves like I blamed myself for making Reid my best friend instead of being a good parent. Sometimes we are so close to our children that we forget that they need us in so many different ways.

The professional wrestler also shared how “grateful” he was for the time he spent with Kidder.

“I have so many great memories and moments spent with him growing up! He stood tall by his mother along with his entire family, Sophia, Paris, and Summer, while I lay dying. He was so selfless in sharing his mother with me as I lay dying. And also after my son Reid died.

“He was multi-talented and in everyone’s eyes a huge success and that’s how we will always remember him. I’m so sorry! Wendy, stay strong and don’t let anything stop you from all the successful endeavors you will undertake in the future. God bless you both! Rest in peace Sebastian! @sebastianonthemic,” Flair concluded the post.

The police are still investigating the circumstances of his death. His mother said in a statement TMZ: “I am devastated and shocked. This is an epidemic affecting young men and mental health.”

Fidder is Barlow’s son from a previous relationship. However, Flair was a fixture in the musician’s life for over a decade before he married Barlow; she played “Fifi the Maid” alongside Flair at World Championship Wrestling (WCW) events. They later said that while Flair and Barlow held a wedding ceremony in Florida in 2018 People that they never received a marriage certificate.

Flair announced their separation in September after 13 years together. The couple previously announced that they were separating in January 2022, but reconciled in May this year. He thanked Barlow for her support during the 2017 health crisis hospitalized due to abdominal pain. He later suffered early stages of kidney failure and near-congestive heart failure, prompting doctors to remove part of his intestine and implant a pacemaker.

“Wendy and I have had 13 wonderful years. Like every couple, we have experienced ups and downs,” Flair shared with wa statement on social media September 23. “I think it’s important for everyone to know now that we have decided to part ways respectfully.”

“I will never be able to thank her enough for standing by my side during my terrible health crisis in 2017. She never left me! And for that I will always be grateful!”

“We’re both working on different projects right now and with my schedule and her schedule, it’s hard to make it happen,” Flair concluded. “I wish her good luck with her projects and I know she supports mine!”

Kidder released his debut album, Under the Moonin July. Appeared on Good morning Atlanta in June, in which he talked about growing up with the WWE legend.

“Growing up with Ric as a stepfather was very different, very special, that’s for sure,” Kidder said. “You go out for a family meal and you’re surrounded by fans and you’re exposed to that from a very early age, everyone coming in, wanting photos, autographs and stuff like that.”

Barlow is also the mother of three daughters. Meanwhile, Flair has been married four times. He welcomed two children – daughter Megan and son David – with his first wife of 12 years, Leslie Goodman. He has another daughter, Ashley, and his late son, Reid, with his second wife, Elizabeth Harrell.

His daughter Ashley signed a contract with WWE in 2012, adopting the ring name Charlotte Flair. She reacted subtly to Kidder’s death on X/Twitter appointment prayer hands emoji, broken heart emoji and dove emoji.

If you live in the US and you or someone you know needs mental health help right now, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org to access the online chat at 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free and confidential crisis hotline, available to anyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a hotline near you. In the UK, people experiencing a mental health crisis can contact Samaritans at: 116 123 Or [email protected].