Billy Brown, the patriarch on the Discovery reality series “Alaskan Bush People,” died Sunday at age 68.
He passed away following a seizure, according to a private Instagram by his son, Bear Brown, according to People magazine.
“We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved patriarch Billy Brown passed away last night after suffering from a seizure,” Bear wrote. “He was our best friend — a wonderful and loving dad, granddad and husband and he will be dearly missed.”
In a public Instagram post, Bear’s sister Rain — who also goes by Rainy — left a touching tribute to their father.
“I lost a true friend. Not forever, but only in this world,” she wrote. “Please hold my family in your thoughts and prayers, especially my mother. Please hold your family tight for me. Words cannot express how wonderful he was and is. But I will say, the closest thing to an angel I’ve ever known. God bless you da I love and miss you dearly. You will always be my hero. God bless everyone.”
The show’s official Twitter account also acknowledged his “sudden passing,” calling him “a trailblazer, a lovely man, and most definitely one of a kind.”
We are devastated to hear of Billy Brown’s sudden passing.
He has been part of the @Discovery family for years – a trailblazer, a lovely man, and most definitely one of a kind. Our heart is with his family and those that knew him as they deal with this devastating loss. pic.twitter.com/23Kaz67ekz
The reality series, which premiered in 2014, follows the growing Brown family — including parents Billy and Ami, plus their children, Matt, Bam Bam, Bear, Gabe, Noah, Snowbird and Rainy — who live off-the-grid and “deep in the wilderness,” according to the show’s official description.
The Zoom forum for the first televised Democratic primary mayoral debate didn’t stop the rival candidates from slinging mud across their computer screens, prompting leading candidate Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams to declare at one point, “Ohhh they’re feisty!”
Here are some of the sharpest barbs from the showdown for the June 22 election :
“Don’t get me involved in your daddy’s problems,” City Comptroller Scott Stringer told former Obama housing director Shaun Donovan, whose rich father has given millions to an outside group supporting his son’s long shot bid.
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“With all due respect Ray, no one has that experience of really making sure we come back specifically from a crisis that you helped create in the Great Recession,” Donovan told former Citigroup executive Ray McGuire, who shot back that he had “zero to do with anything involved in the mortgage crisis.”
McGuire then cited his 13 years as the head of Citi’s corporate and investment banking unit. “You know what they call that in my neighborhood? They call that receipts. He has blank checks,” McGuire blasted back at Donovan.
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“Mr. Donovan, we would hate to use the mute function on anyone,” questioner Josefa Velazquez from the news outlet The City said when the candidate interrupted her.
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“I helped swing those two races in Georgia that have helped deliver the Senate,” Andrew Yang boasted, attempting to make up for his lack of a voting record in local NYC elections.
“That is disrespectful and appalling to Stacey Abrams and those black women who organized on the ground. He needs to stop saying that. They won that fight,” Adams retorted.
“Given how close the race was let’s agree that anyone who spent a dollar or made one phone call helped contribute to the outcome there,” moderator Errol Louis interjected to stop the back-and-forth.
A young mortician has gone viral on TikTok, sharing macabre trade secrets and talking about the most difficult parts of working with the dead.
Eileen Hollis grew up in Syracuse, New York, living above her family’s business, Hollis Funeral Home, according to People. The 31-year-old went on to follow in her father’s footsteps and studied mortuary science.
During her four-year career, she has performed “over 1,000 services” for the dead, which include embalming, cremation, hair and makeup. Her straightforward conversations about death and the morbid details of her job — from the weird smells to wiring jaws shut — have made Hollis a TikTok sensation.
In one video, she walks her 410,000 followers through the embalming process while doing her morning skincare routine.
“Because my hands are so small, I got to reach in and hold someone’s brain. So that was interesting,” she brags while holding a face serum that looks a lot like blood.
But Hollis claims that the job isn’t “as gruesome as [people] think” but can get difficult, telling People that “infant deaths are extremely hard.”
She also appreciates the chance to destigmatize conversations about death, debunk myths and inform people of their options. Viewers often have questions for her ranging from curious — like “what happens if someone dies wearing contact lenses?” or “how do you get makeup to look natural when the skin is stiff?” — to much more graphic — like “is it true you break people’s bones to position them in a coffin?” or “where do tampons go and who takes them out?” — which she gladly answers.
“You’re not morbid,” she assured one follower who asked about pregnant people dying. “It’s normal to be curious.”
Hollis’ unconventional look, with her pink hair, tatted skin and cat eye glasses, has been called “unprofessional and disrespectful,” she told People, by some in the industry that aims to stick to tradition. But working in the profession is just as integral to her identity — and part of her roots.
“I love working with my dad,” which she says is her favorite thing about being a mortician. Hollis lives nearby her father’s funeral home, but actually plans to move out of her “Hobbit house” and back into her family home to eventually take over the business — a growing trend for young people who are taking over the mortuary business.
In fact, Hollis isn’t the only TikTok mortician as #DeathTok is a growing niche community of viewers fascinated with the macabre. Other young death professionals have taken to the app to discuss the eerie tricks of the trade including @mybloodygalentine and @mortedeanubis.
“American Idol” top-five finalist Caleb Kennedy has left the show after a video surfaced showing him next to someone wearing what appears to be a Ku Klux Klan hood.
A representative for the show confirmed to The Post that Kennedy will no longer be moving forward in the competition.
The singer, 16, posted a statement about his departure on Instagram Wednesday.
“Hey y’all, this is gonna be a bit of a surprise but I am no longer gonna be on ‘American Idol,’” he wrote. “There was a video that surfaced on the internet and it displayed actions that were not meant to be taken in that way. I was younger and did not think about the actions, but that’s not an excuse. I wanna say sorry to all my fans and everyone who I have let down. I’ll be taking a little time off social media to better myself, but saying that, I know this has hurt and disappointed a lot of people and made people lose respect for me. I’m so sorry! I pray that I can one day regain your trust in who I am and have your respect! Thank you for supporting me.”
The remaining finalists include Willie Spence, Grace Kinstler, Chayce Beckham and Casey Bishop.
Kennedy’s mother, Anita Guy, gave a statement to MSN claiming that the video was taken when Kennedy was 12 and inspired by a movie he had seen.
“I hate this has happened and how Caleb is being portrayed by people online,” Guy said. “This video was taken after Caleb had watched the movie ‘The Strangers: Prey at Night’ and they were imitating those characters. It had nothing to do with the Ku Klux Klan, but I know that’s how it looks. Caleb doesn’t have a racist bone in his body. He loves everyone and has friends of all races.”
THIS SHOULD’VE STAYED IN YOUR DRAFTS: American Idol contestant Caleb Kennedy allegedly seen in a resurfaced with someone wearing a KKK hood. Caleb is allegedly blocking anyone who mentions the video, according to multiple reports. pic.twitter.com/9OKHmvOCEB
On Tuesday, Kennedy had posted an upbeat message on Instagram, thanking his followers for their support. “Hey guys! So glad to have y’all on the journey with me through #Americanidol,” he wrote. “Also really happy to be in the studio working on songs!! I love you guys so much!!”
On the most recent episode this past Sunday, May 9, Kennedy performed a throaty version of the Coldplay song “Violet Hill,” plus an original tune, “Mama Said,” according to Heavy.com.
Mid-afternoon Wednesday, the show posted a Twitter teaser that Billie Eilish’s brother Finneas would mentor finalists in the upcoming episode on Sunday, but it did not mention Kennedy’s move.
It’s not the only shocking exit this season on “American Idol.” Wyatt Pike, 20, left the competition series after making the top 12, citing “personal reasons.”
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