Anthony Riley held the record for the fastest four chair turn in the history of The Voice. He was expected to go very far in the competition when suddenly he was removed from the show. This resulted in Pharell’s team having a three way battle. As a fan, I thought maybe someone had grabbed him for a record deal and he was in violation of his contract.
Sadly, he was battling with addiction and apparently told the producers the show was too much for him to handle. He went back to Philadelphia where he was a street performer who was voted best street performer by Philadelphia Magazine in 2014. It appears that The Voice might have paid for his rehab.
Sadly, Anthony was not able to over come his demons. He committed suicide and was found dead on Friday. He was 28.
If you or someone you know have thoughts of suicide, you can go online to www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org or call 1-800-273-TALK and speak to someone, 24/7.
So heartbreaking… prayers to his family.
So very sad…so much suffering. Rest in peace.
I’m so sorry he was in such pain, I hope he is at peace and that his love ones find comfort. TT thank you for covering his story with respect, kind words and information to help others.
AGREE!!!
Sadly, as I am reading this post, I am a little overwhelmed at the thoughts of all the friends I lost to addiction. I am still in my heart an ole Hippie and was raised in the 60s, so I have partaken and seen my share of drugs. Thank God I got a grip and said no more still early enough in my life to raise a child and live a fairly productive life. It could have been so different. I can’t count the times I thought, why me, why did I stop in time when so many others could not or would not. I’ll never know.
I read that. And that was a kind thing for the people of the voice to actually listen to his problems and want him to be healthy and send him to rehab instead of just kicking him to the curb.
Mark Burnett is generally a good guy.
My God sooooo sad! My prayers are with him…
This is heartbreaking. The combination of talent and addiction can be beautiful and devastating. Out of my rehab group (there were 16 of us) I am the only one who got sober, and it was a very expensive and well respected program. That’s how bad the odds are. We are losing beautiful young people everyday to this insidious, evil plague on a portion of us.
I hear ya…..I went to rehab 25 years ago and was the least likely to stay sober (according to the staff). 2 people in my group died and almost all of them went back out. I just HATE this disease.
Such a tragedy. RIP
I don’t watch the VOICE..but TT if its on your site…then its NEWS! I saw the video and my heart just broke!…it appeared that singing helped him forget his pain..if only for three minutes…It must be absolutely horrible to live in such constant pain that you want to take your own life…may he forever RIP..
Such a tragedy. I watched him on the show and was puzzled when they abruptly said he wasn’t coming back. May he rest in peace.