New details have emerged regarding the sudden and shocking death of Joel Taylor, the out host of the Discovery reality show “Storm Chasers.”
Taylor died aboard a Royal Caribbean ship charted by gay cruise company Atlantis Events back in January.
TMZ reported that the night that Taylor died, “party drugs” were reportedly “flowing freely” among revelers. As a result, the FBI launched an investigation into the matter.
Related: ‘Storm Chasers’ host Joel Taylor dies of reported drug overdose on gay cruise
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Now, Taylor’s toxicology lab results have been revealed.
The lab found 38-year-old Taylor’s death was the result of a deadly drug cocktail including “tricyclic antidepressants,” MDMA, Ketamine, and Zolpidem, which is a version of Ambien.
MDA (a.k.a. Sally), an amphetamine, was also present in his system, according to The Blast.
Despite reports that Taylor was seen taking GHB, the toxicology report did not find any traces of the drug in his system at the time of death.
Related: FBI launches investigation into drugs on gay cruise after death of Joel Taylor
MacAdvisor
“The lab found 38-year-old Taylor’s death was the result of a deadly drug cocktail including “tricyclic antidepressants,” MDMA, Ketamine, and Zolpidem, which is a version of Ambien.”
Whew, glad to know there wasn’t any GHB. That’s the good news.
Bob LaBlah
From the article: “TMZ reported that the night that Taylor died, “party drugs” were reportedly “flowing freely” among revelers.”
Thank god none of them were smoking pot and using meth.
Chrisk
Now Bob. Most tweakers would not be caught dead smoking pot. Downer and all.
WindChime
I blame his death on his friends who pressured him to do these kinds of drugs. He was such a good looking guy that the only reason he ODed was due to peer pressure.
startenout
Yeah pretty people never OD without peer pressure
striker8083
Windchime, as someone who knows the details well he was not pressured into anything. He took what he did on his own free will…perhaps what’s sad is the acceptance and normalization to take drugs to have a good time–but don’t blame other people–because that’s ridiculous. Not like it was the first time ever either…
ubicomp
“he’s so good looking, somebody made him do it!!” …. because only ugly people OD of their own free wheel. Please think more before you type.
ubicomp
“free will” … voice recognition fail
WindChime
At the very least, his so-called friends failed to save him due to their guilty conscience. Even if they didn’t force Joel to take drugs, they took advantage of him in one of his weak moments. I truly believe that he said no but ultimately was coerced to do it so that he could be accepted into their circle of friends.
ubicomp
@WindChime You have no idea how completely clueless you sound. Have you spent ANY time at all around the gay drug crowd or the Atlantis Cruise crowd? I have. Drugs are commonplace. I’m not putting any value judgements on any of it. People are adults, and they make their own decisions, including myself. I’ve been around countless people over time mixing all sorts of things. Sometimes it’s fine, sometimes it’s not. I had a friend and former roommate die under similar circumstances. We saw him out, then he went home alone, passed out, and aspirated on his own vomit, alone in bed. You take too much of the wrong thing, and it can be very bad. I’ve known people with healthy attitudes toward drug use and others with unhealthy attitudes. The best you can hope for is people to stay informed and make good decisions. If you feel like you’ve gone too far, ask for help and do not go somwhere alone. If you see someone in need, ask if you can help. But please spare your uninformed conjecture about who’s to blame. He was a big boy, nobody forced him. It’s sad and unfortunate, but it’s nobody else’s fault.
ubicomp
Often times it’s mixing other downers with GHB that causes the problems. The concentrations can be all over the place, and the difference between enough and too much is a 1-ounce cap. One minute your friend is having a good time, the next minute their world is spinning, and 5 minutes later they’re puking in a corner. People need to be careful how they mix their substances. In this case it was probably the ambien/ketamine mix that did the most harm. Mixing downers is asking for trouble. If you don’t know what you’re doing, do it with people who do, and stay together. Be safe out there.
WindChime
No I have never been on any gay cruises nor do I plan to be on one anytime soon. I didn’t ask any of these details about his death to be revealed and while you are all so eager to paint him as a drug user, I find it exceedingly unpalatable. I Have a wonderful image of him, wholesome and warm. Nothing you said or are going to say is going to change how I feel about this beautiful young man.
ubicomp
@windchime By all means, keep up that fantasy.
dwes09
There is nothing that reveals intellectual weakness as well as the inability to tell the difference between belief and reality.
Windchimes seems to be the same person as “castlesf” who constantly posted as if they thought their imagination was reality and their lack of life experience, wisdom.
Yes, foolish use of recreational drugs is bad. That’s why I stopped doing that stuff 40 years ago. But it is compelling, and exciting and despite your make believe world, even nice looking men indulge of their own free will. The disassociation from reality you display is almost as sad as the use of recreational drugs because both are dangerous.
DHT
most of you guys that are bullying Windchime know that there are a lot of creeps out there that dose us whenever they get the chance, especially the good looking guys. Some guys just can’t take “no” for an answer.
DHT
Most of you guys that are bullying Windchime know that there are a lot of creeps out there that dose us whenever they get the chance, good looking guys are especially at risk. Some guys just can’t take “no” for an answer.
MaxTaste
Nobody thinks it will happen to them, but it does. Very sad.
Herman75
Yes, it is terribly sad. What else can one say?
Chrisk
I remember doing that. If you’re on a party cruise, circuit party, etc it’s.. uppers followed by downers. You’d be part of the walking dead by day 2 if you didn’t.
Of coarse looking back it’s all BS and horrible for your body. Deadly if not timed right.
DHT
I actually have never believed he took the drugs himself. More likely he was dosed by someone he said “no” to.
striker8083
That’s absolutely ridiculous. Have any proof of this…any facts? Or just saying it because you can…you’re absolutely wrong…or just a troll.
DHT
Do you have proof that he took the drugs himself or are you just defending his would be rapists? I believe it’s unlikely that he did but unless your a woman or you live in the UK or Canada it is unlikely his death would be investigated as a homicide.
BGinBigD
@WindChime Bless your heart, honey! Do you really think a man found dead from a mixture of MDMA, Ketamine, Zolpidem and MDA was talked into taking any one of these drugs?? Taylor was a DRUG ADDICT. He couldn’t get high enough until the drugs killed him. He wasn’t on a Disney Cruise, girl.
DHT
Do you really believe a young scientist and television personality did all those different drugs himself…that would be really stupid and I don’t believe this man was stupid. It’s far more likely he was dosed by someone he said “no” too…there are a lot of “Cosbys” in the gay world.
DHT
sorry for the typo…someone he said “no” to*
surreal33
Sadly as the list young gay men keep growing it is astounding that gay men accept this as normal. The narrative that unprotected sex, drugs, alcohol, are requirements for all gay parties, cruises, etc. is sad and stupid. Perhaps since gay men have mastered death and self-destruction we could started a new trend of getting high off the music and energy of a crowd beautiful men?
DHT
If a woman is found dead with date rape drugs in her system no one assumes she did them herself.
russdog
I’m 55 and have done plenty of things someone can judge me on. But I’ve never done drugs. I never drank, either. In my younger days I went out dancing quite a bit, but I never understood the drug scene. I’ve been very ill with cancer in recent years and loaded up with some drugs in the hospital, so I know they feel good, but are they necessary to have fun socially or during sex every time?
I can’t judge anyone’s choices. I’ve been a slut and shamed for it, so I know how it is to live on your own terms and be knocked for it. I just wish we could live our lives without suffering.
DHT
What you don’t know is if someone who you went home with voluntarily dosed you and then ran a wolf pack on you.
jorgecruz
FBI Investigation in to drugs on an Atlantis cruise? Hahaha, all they have to do is get on the boat and go to any party. This will be the easiest investigation in the history of the FBI. The friends that dumped him and left him should be charged with depraved indifference.
DHT
I absolutely agree…they probably were actually the ones who dosed him and when he was overdosing they ditched him because didn’t want his death to ruin their party.
tghost54
I have always agreed with Mary Shelley when she said ” I don’t believe feelings can be manufactured in a pipe or bottle.”