Joel Taylor, the out host of the Discovery Channel show Storm Chasers, has died of a suspected drug overdose on board a gay cruise. He was 38 years old.
The Atlantis Cuise–called the “Atlantis Harmony Caribbean”–departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on January 20 to return to the same port on January 27. Taylor was found dead on January 24.
TMZ reports Taylor took GHB before he became unconcious on a dance floor aboard the ship Tuesday night. He was then taken to his room by two unnamed people.
Authorities told TMZ: “It appears the death could be an overdose and Joel Taylor was consuming controlled substances.”
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GHB is a common party drug that slows the body down, similar to alcohol. Because it is so dose dependant–only a very small amount is consumed at a time–it’s often difficult for someone to know exactly how much they’ve had. When mixed with alcohol, it becomes especially dangerous.
In a statement to Us Weekly, the cruise liner said:
We extend our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the 38-year-old male guest from the United States who died while onboard Harmony of the Seas. As is our standard procedure, law enforcement was notified and responded to the ship when it arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Tuesday, January 23. A member of our Care Team is providing support and assistance to his family.
The Discovery network also released a statement:
We are so saddened to hear about Joel’s passing. We will always remember him fondly as an incredible meteorologist and driver of ‘The Dominator.’ Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time.
Costar Reed Timmer posted these messages on Twitter:
RIP my best friend and storm chasing partner, Joel Taylor. I am shocked and absolutely devastated by the loss of my incredible, caring friend. We chased so many intense storms, and I wish we could have just one more storm chase. I'll miss you forever, Joel. We lost a legend pic.twitter.com/htN45t8wik
— Reed Timmer (@ReedTimmerAccu) January 24, 2018
SpotterNetwork tribute for the great storm chaser Joel Taylor centered on his "backyard" in western OK. Joel knew every single back road in that region so we were always excited when we would get the opportunity to chase there. Thank you storm chasing community pic.twitter.com/Zk1bWVUdIo
— Reed Timmer (@ReedTimmerAccu) January 24, 2018
ChrisK
I remember back in my party days (2000) GHB was so bad that clubs had to post warnings about it. They’d have medics at circuit parties and GHB was the most over dosed.
I think George Michael died of GHB over dose too.
Kangol
I’d also heard this, but it turns out that George Michael’s (RIP) official cause of death, at least according to the coroner, was heart and liver disease. He had an enlarged heart, and a fatty liver. So GHB wasn’t involved, at least not when he died.
joe
same here i came out a bit late and was fast tracked by these two guys (who unknown to me were MAJOR porn stars at the time) they took me in and showed me the way. they gave me good advice about drugs. i was no angel but i had some good friends to watch out for me. i stopped with the G after 2 friends didnt wake up one morning. while i did try stuff it was here and there or saved for a party ..now i realize how lucky i am …no more drugs no more booze…although i do enjoy my vape with some nice bud once in a while. you know “bud” the drug our gov’t has at the top of the most dangerous list…
ChrisK
It’s too bad he didn’t have people that cared about him. He needed medical attention. Not just thrown back in his room to sleep it off.
Smith David
@ChrisK…it’s not fair to say or imply that he didn’t have people to who cared for him. I am sure he did. However, he is a grown man and there is only so much anyone can do.
What’s more, it’s interesting to me that the media hesitated to give this information. Yet, somehow queerty was able to get what I hope is the truth.
ChrisK
A ship like that has medical people on the stand by. Maybe summon help?
niles
typical response
Nowuvedoneit
At my age of 40 I seemed to have escaped that scene unscathed. I didn’t or should say was aware of any of my friends doing it when I was younger. The most shocking thing someone offered me was cocaine and I said no to that. I’m not trying to preach or say I’m better, just circumstance in life are different for everyone.
Brian
I’ve smoked pot twice in my life, that’s the extent of my drug experimentation. I always assumed that if I tried something, I’d like it (otherwise what’s the point?), and that I was much better off not knowing what I was missing. One of the smartest things I ever did in my life.
Of course, I’ve been smoking tobacco since I was 15, so that smartness only extended so far, apparently.
Daniel-Reader
Hopefully all the attendees will turn in the drug suppliers so the suppliers can do prison time. Need to weed out all the drug dealers harming the LGBT community.
ChrisK
The successful drug dealers do not use the product themselves because they know better. That tells you everything.
Nowuvedoneit
People will abuse drugs even if the illegal drug dealers are all locked up. The war on drugs has not won anything it’s actually lost. He was an adult and very likely knew what he was using and why. That’s why there are consequences when taking party drugs.
CastleSF
“When tragedies strike, we try to find someone to blame. And in the absence of a suitable candidate (RIP Joel), we usually blame someone we perceive as the offender. In this case, the dealer is not to blame. No one is to blame.” People and many gay guys especially, will continue to do chemical drugs and party hard. Some will eventually join the 12-step meetings and get sober but others will meet a tragic end.
Brian
The guy who took the GHB is to blame. He was 38 years old, that is quite old enough to know better.
Serenity333
So sad. disgusting behavior by those guys who could have saved him. He was beautiful but clearly caught up in the bs pnp crap that plagues our community.
DCguy
Honestly some of the cruise descriptions sound like floating circuit parties, I’m surprised this doesn’t happen more often.
Young Timer
So very sad.
What a brilliant young man, taken right in the prime of his calling.
It’s infuriating that his life was taken by a choice.
I can understand if it’s natural, or the result of a natural disaste, but that doesn’t work here.
In this case, it seems he made the choice to consume the stuff.
His friends chose to get him off the dance floor and dump him in his cabin (what were they thinking.. is it difficult to party around a body lying on the floor?)
Do cruise ships choose not do drug sweeps before disembarkation (NCL certainly does it, with fervor I might add).
There’s a lot of blame to go around here, but owning up does not bring back the life of this young man.
Oh well, it sounds callous… but what can you do?
Young Timer
Pardon… disaster, not disaste
DHT
how do you know he chose to take the drug? GHB is usually used in date rapes.
SPEEDOSWIMMER
Another one bites the dust…
getit1986
. As a current passenger and long-time passenger, what bothers me about this cruise is that is is not like burning man, for island pines party or some other gay circuit parties I have been too. There is no medical tent or people standing by. If there are, I feel like there goal is to get people in trouble or arrested. At fire island pines party, you would see people do too much and make a bad choice then go sleep It off in the medical tent under proper supervision. Now people are stashing friends in their rooms because they are afraid of getting in trouble from the cruise which has created an unsafe environment through fear. It is strange. Are he cruise directors and company above protecting those who make choices they disagree with? Are they totally naive? What are they thinking…. other events have “PlaySafe” stations where people are cared for properly. Atlantis needs to get it together. Their threats of arrest if any passenger comes to them and admits to drug use has created so much panic that people are dying. They should be held partially responsible. I know personall we have jus tried to make sure all our friends are safe despite their neglect. We are just doing or best to make sure everyone we know is well cared for not left alone if they do too much.
johnnymcmxxx
These Gay cruises are excruciating with terrible circuit-party EDM music from the worlds worst DJs. The drugs are out of control and after being on one, I don’t want to be around any Gay people for weeks. Gayed-OUT!
ChicagoSteve
I was on the Atlantis cruise on the allure of the seas a few years ago when one of the passengers jumped overboard to his death in the middle of the night. So sad that they’ve had another death on Atlantis cruise.
electrongreen
No Sympathy, he chose to take the drugs, that’s the risk.
DHT
How do you know he chose to take the GHB? It’s a date rape drug that generally other people dose you with, if there is a problem they always say the victim took it themselves.
DHT
IF someone dies during chemsex it is murder and should be investigated as such. The UK has finally caught on after they had a chemsex serial killer. In the US the police don’t even investigate. Of course the people who slipped him the drug are going to say he took it himself.
nitejonboy
Damn I didn’t know he was gay, he was hot,adorable, such a shame…they should close these gay cruises, they’re nothing but drug dens. I was lucky, I was never offered anything like this in my youth, I’m 41 now, the most I did was one tiny bump of coke which did nothing for me and some pot which did a little more but not much. I knew if I did drugs I’d prolly become addicted so I didn’t fool around. Call me a prude if you want, but I’m alive.