It has been less than a week since the death of Sawyer Sweeten. And reports are coming out about what may have driven the teenager to take his own life.
A former child star, Sawyer Sweeten committed suicide at the age of 19 after reportedly struggling with gay rumors, financial problems, and a failed career.
Sawyer, his twin brother, Sullivan, and their sister, Madylin, played the TV children of Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton on the hit CBS show Everybody Loves Raymond.
He was on the show from 1996 to 2005.
Sawyer died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot would to the head on April 23. His body was discovered at a relative’s house in Brownwood, Texas.
The Sweeten kids were earning about $100,000 an episode during the last year of the sitcom.
Though $100,000 seems like a lot, in comparison to Ray Romano’s $2 million an episode, the kids were making very little.
Nearly a week before his death, Sweeten showed off a pic of his new motorcycle.
However, the National Enquirer claimed that he had been in serious financial debt, and the state of California had filed a tax lien against him for a failed business endeavor.
A source also claimed: “On top of that, he struck out finding a girlfriend and was the subject of gay rumors.”
Rumors and reasons for his tragic death aside, his family is understandably devastated.
His stepfather, Jerry Gini, told The Enquirer that the family is still trying “to sort out what happened.”
The Everybody Loves Raymond stars are mourning the loss of the boy they watched grow up on set.
Ray Romano states, "I’m shocked, and terribly saddened, by the news about Sawyer. He was a wonderful and sweet kid to be around."
The sad news that gay rumors may have led him to commit suicide is heartbreaking. Let this be a reminder to say something kind to someone today.
Celebrities We Lost in 2015
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