Kevin Barnett, Comedian and Rel Co-Creator, Dies at 32

Kevin Barnett, a highly successful stand-up comedian who recently helped create the sitcom Rel, was found dead during a vacation last week in Mexico.

He was 32 years old.

The cause of Barnett’s death remains unknown at this time, but the tragic piece of news was confirmed via a Tweet from the official account of the Last Podcast Network, on which Barnett co-hosted the weekly series Roundtable of Gentlemen.

“Dear Last Podcast family,” opens this sad message, which expounds with the awful details as follows:

It’s with a heavy heart we inform you of the passing of Kevin Barnett. The joy he brought to our lives is the greatest gift we have ever received.

Remind your friends you love them because you never know when you’ll see them again. We love you KB.

We’ll share more details about what happened as they come in.

Over the weekend, however, Barnett shared his last-ever social media post: a photo of himself on a sidewalk in Mexico, along with a caption that read:

“In mexico. Bought myself a sweater. Been accused of appropriation several times. In my head I just gave a lady some money so I ain’t cold. Either way. Swag heavy. Mixtape comin.”

Barnett wrote and contributed to a multitute of television shows and films, including Broad City, The Carmichael Show and The Heartbreak Kid.

The sitcom Rel, which he co-created, premiered just a few months ago in September; it stars Get Out actor and comedian Lil Rel Howery and Sinbad.

Barnett also had a few movies in the works as well, including one called The Wrong Missy with David Spade.

“Our hearts are broken, as are those of everyone at Rel, at the news of Kevin Barnett’s passing. He was an incredibly funny, wildly talented man who had so much more to do and so many more stories to tell,” a rep for Twentieth Century Fox Television and Fox Entertainment said in a statement.

It concluded:

“We send our thoughts and prayers to his friends and family during this difficult time.”

Comedy Central also paid tribute to Barnett after the awful news broke, writing:

“Kevin Barnett was an incredible comedian and writer, contributing to Broad City, the stand-up community and beyond. He’ll be greatly missed.”

Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s Chelsea Peretti, meanwhile, Tweeted, “i am so sad.”

And Crashing‘s Jamie A. Lee added on Instagram: “A shocking, horrible loss. Kevin Barnett was a brilliant comedian and a great guy. RIP @fatboybarnett. This is so awful.”

“I’m at a loss for words hearing about Kevin Barnett… We went to college together and both moved out to LA to pursue the dream,” actor and comedian King Bach wrote on Twitter, concluding:

“Rest in paradise brother.”

Then there was The Simpsons and Parks and Recreation producer Mike Scully, who worked on The Carmichael Show and said of Barnett:

“Kevin Barnett was a great standup, but I knew him as a smart, funny, talented TV writer and just a really sweet guy who made the insanity of the late nights more fun.

“Condolences to his family and friends. Can’t believe I’m writing this.”

We concur.

This is what Pete Davidson wrote of the tragedy:

“The world lost a great one today. One of our comedy family members Kevin Barnett has tragically passed. I love Kevin. I’ve known him for nearly 10 years and he’s always been the sweetest and funniest.

“Always had a smile on his face. Was one of the few that treated me like a comic even when I was just 16 years old. He always made me feel part of the group.”

May Kevin Barnett rest in peace.

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