Brad Garrett Stands by Carrot Top Following Reported Suicide Attempt

Everybody Loves Raymond star Brad Garrett is expressing his support for his friend and fellow comedian Carrot Top after the entertainer was hospitalized following a reported suicide attempt.

“Oh my beautiful, talented friend @carrottoplive. We’re all grateful you’re OK,” Garrett, 66, shared on Instagram on Saturday, September 19, accompanied by a photo with Carrot Top, 61, and Ray Romano. “Take this time to remember how loved and appreciated you are by so many.”

He further added, “We’re here for you. We need you healthy. YOU need you healthy. Whatever it takes, we’ll support you. You’ve been given a second chance for a reason. Use it wisely. We need people like you around. Show yourself kindness. We love you.”

Carrot Top, whose real name is Scott Thompson, was hospitalized in Las Vegas on Friday, September 19, after a reported suicide attempt. (TMZ was the first news outlet to break the story.)

“Mr. Thompson is recovering in the hospital and receiving the needed care and support,” his representative, Jami Schlicher, stated to the outlet. “His family and close friends are extremely thankful for the concern, prayers, and kindly request privacy.”

TMZ also reported that Carrot Top’s scheduled comedy shows at the Luxor Casino on Friday and Saturday were both canceled during his hospitalization. Us has reached out to representatives for Carrot Top, Luxor Casino, and the Las Vegas Police Department for comments but has yet to receive a response.

Carrot Top, who has not publicly commented on his hospitalization, has headlined a residency at Luxor since 2005.

“It happened by chance, believe it or not. I used to perform for a couple of weeks at a time at the MGM Grand, 17 years ago,” he recounted in a 2022 interview about his Vegas performances. “It was like a mini-residency. I would perform for two weeks, then go on tour, and return to do two more weeks.”

Shortly after, Carrot Top was offered his own show.

“I wasn’t prepared to be a resident headliner. I hesitated,” Carrot Top admitted. “I suggested we do a year and see how it went. The first year was tough. I was living in the hotel and things just weren’t going well. The shows were challenging, and I was losing my mind, thinking I needed to leave. Then one day, it was really strange—I started enjoying it, and everything started to fall into place.”

He continued, “I agreed to extend it for another two years, making it a three-year contract, and from that point, we really found our rhythm. It wouldn’t make sense for me to leave Vegas. Then I signed a five-year deal, which turned into a ten-year deal, and now it’s been 16 years and counting. It’s great being in one place where people come to see you instead of the other way around. I’ve become accustomed to the venue.”

Carrot Top’s show was recently nominated for Best Comedian, Best Resident Performer/Headliner, and Best Production Show at the Best of Las Vegas Awards.

If you or someone you know is having a hard time or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.