Rockstar Melissa Etheridge is speaking out after news revealing that her 21-year-old son had passed away went public. According to a statement made on her Instagram page, her son’s death was the result of an addiction to opioids.
News of 21-year-old Beckett Cypher‘s passing was first shared by Etheridge’s team on Twitter. “We’re sad to inform you that Melissa’s son Beckett passed away and there will not be a Concerts From Home show today.”
Since following stay-at-home orders, the musician has been using her talents and her social media platforms to help keep her fans entertained by performing her songs live from her home. It was roughly four hours after the initial tweet was sent regarding her son’s passing that Etheridge issued a written statement to the public.
“Today I joined the hundreds of thousands of families who have lost loved ones to opioid addictions,” the grieving mother began. “My son Beckett, who was just 21, struggled to overcome his addictions and finally succumbed to it today.”
“He will be missed by those who loved him, his family, and friends. My heart is broken. I am grateful for those who have reached out with condolences and I feel their love and sincere grief. We struggle with what else we could have done to save him, and in the end, we know he is out of the pain now. I will sing again, soon. It has always healed me. – Melissa”
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse and data from 2018, every day, 128 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids.
“In 2018, 46,802 Americans died as a result of an opioid overdose, including prescription opioids, heroin, and illicitly manufactured fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid. That same year, an estimated 1.7 million people in the United States suffered from substance use disorders related to prescription opioid pain relievers, and 526,000 suffered from a heroin use disorder (not mutually exclusive).”
Etheridge shared Beckett with her ex-partner Julie Cypher. They also have an older daughter together, Bailey Jean. According to TMZ, both children were born via artificial insemination and their biological father is rock singer David Crosby. Additionally, Etheridge is also the mother of 13-year-old twins from another relationship.
While Julie has yet to speak out publicly following her son’s passing, Crosby and Bailey have. Also on Instagram, Bailey admitted she didn’t quite know what to say after losing her brother.
“I don’t know what to say. Today we lost my brother. Too heartbroken and overwhelmed to be eloquent but appreciate all those who have reached out. I love you Beckett. Fly high and watch over us.”
And while Crosby didn’t put out a formal statement, the musician has been responding to different tweets about his biological son.
“Maybe it’s a test.”
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As People pointed out, during a past interview with Parents, Etheridge admitted, “there’s nothing like taking the responsibility or creating the responsibility of bringing a human being into this world and helping it in its first years.”
“It doesn’t matter the equation that gets you there or what you are to that person,” she concluded. “It doesn’t matter at all. It is the bond between you and the child.” Our thoughts are with Etheridge and her family during this difficult time.
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