Update: MTV tells Us Weekly in a statement: “We are saddened to hear the news of the passing of Ryan Knight. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”
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The Real World alum Ryan Knight has died at the age of 29, Us Weekly confirms. According to TMZ, who first reported his passing, the reality TV star was found dead by friends on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, Nov. 27, after a night of partying.
Knight, who was a castmate on the 2010 Real World New Orleans, had reportedly been in great spirits on Wednesday evening, and had been telling his pals he was in a new relationship that made him very happy.
Knight’s sudden death comes less than two weeks after fellow MTV reality star Diem Brown passed away at the age of 32 on Friday, Nov. 14, following a long battle against ovarian cancer.
Although Brown and Knight were not Real World castmates, they did feature together on The Challenge and Knight had recently changed his Twitter profile picture to one of him and Brown together, in honor of his late friend.
The day before Brown’s funeral, Knight tweeted a touching memorial to his reality pal. “A funeral for an Angel tomorrow,” he wrote. “She’ll fly the highest and shine the brightest. And without a doubt she’ll be dancing over us. Love Ya DB.”
Last night, MTV posted a statement regarding Knight’s sad passing on its Twitter feed, sending the channel’s condolences onto Knight’s family.
“The Real World family has lost another member. Reactions here. http://www.mtv.com/news/2010788/real-world-challenge-ryan-knight-tributes/ … “ the post read. “Our thoughts are with Ryan Knight’s family and friends”
Knight’s reality TV costars were quick to respond.
“Words will never be enough to justify the connection we shared and the pain I will forever feel. RIP, “wrote Knight’s ex-girlfriend Jemmy Carroll.
The Challenge alum Zach Nichols wrote, “You lived your life in the fast lane, and your smile was contagious. My bunkmate, my buddy. Rest easy pal, I’ll miss you,” while Jasmine Reynaud called Knight, “my friend I could call anytime of the night to cry too… #imsocrushed prayers w/urfam.”
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Johnny Reilly expressed his shock and sadness and told his pal, “We’ll play hockey together in heaven,” while Nany Carmen Gonzalez thanked Knight for all the “laughter & good times” they shared.
Knight’s last tweet, in the early hours of Thanksgiving morning, read somewhat cryptically, “You used to mean a lot.”
Two days earlier he left another, now poignant quote: “Have the type of life, that when you die no one will dare say, ‘he left us for a better place.’”
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