WWE star Ric Flair shares emotional tribute following stepson Sebastian Kidder’s suicide

Professional struggle legend Rick Flair has shared his emotional reaction to the death of his stepson, Sebastian Kidder, who was 24.

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

‘I spent hours wondering what to say. After hearing the news of Sebastian’s passing,” he began the lengthy caption. “I can only imagine what Wendy @thewonderouswendy and Paul are going through after losing a son around the same age in 2013. I know the pain of your loss will stay with you for the rest of your life.”

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

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

The professional wrestler went on to talk about how “grateful” he was “for the time” he shared with Kidder.

“I have so many wonderful memories and time with him growing up! He stood next to his mother, along with the whole family – Sophia, Paris and Summer, while I was dying. He was so selfless that he shared his mother with me while I was dying. And also at the death of my son Reid.

“He was multi-talented and a huge success in everyone’s eyes and will always be remembered as such. I’m so sorry! Wendy, please stay strong and don’t let anything stop you from all your successful endeavors in the future. God bless you both! Rest in peace Sebastiaan! @sebastianonthemic,” Flair closed the post.

Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding his death. His mother said in a statement TMZ: “I am devastated and shocked. This is an epidemic regarding your young men and mental health.”

Fidder is Barlow’s son from a previous relationship. However, Flair had been 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. While Flair and Barlow held a wedding ceremony in Florida in 2018, they later shared People that they never received a marriage certificate.

Flair announced their separation in September after thirteen years together. The couple previously announced their split in January 2022, but reconciled in May that year. He thanked Barlow for her support during his health crisis in 2017 when he was still admitted to hospital due to stomach pain. He later suffered early stages of kidney failure and near-congestive heart failure, prompting doctors to remove part of his intestine and insert a pacemaker.

“Wendy and I enjoyed 13 wonderful years. Like any couple, we’ve been through our ups and downs,” Flair shared in one social media statement on September 23. “I think it is important that everyone now knows that we have decided to part ways respectfully.”

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

“We’re both working on different projects right now and it’s going to be hard with my schedule and her schedule to make this work,” Flair concluded. “I wish her the best of luck with her projects, and I know she supports mine!”

Kidder released his debut album, Under the moonin July. He made an appearance Good day Atlanta in June, in which he spoke about growing up with the WWE legend.

“Growing up with Ric as a stepfather, it was very different, very unique, that’s for sure,” Kidder said. “You go out to dinner with the family and you’re just surrounded by fans and you’re exposed to that from a young age, everyone comes up and wants pictures, autographs, things 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 shares another daughter, Ashley, and his late son Reid with his second wife, Elizabeth Harrell.

His daughter Ashley signed with the WWE in 2012 and adopted the ring name Charlotte Flair. On X/Twitter she responded subtly to Kidder’s death by post a praying hands emoji, a broken heart emoji and a dove emoji.

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