‘Rel’ Co-Creator Kevin Barnett Dead at 32
Written by SOURCE on January 23, 2019
Comedy writer Kevin Barnett died unexpectedly this week at the age of 32.
According to Variety, the NYC-based comedian died of unknown causes while vacationing Mexico. 20th TV and Fox Entertainment confirmed his death in a statement on Tuesday:
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. We send our thoughts and prayers to his friends and family during this difficult time
Barnett’s last Instagram post went up over the weekend and was captioned: “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.”
Though he was considered an up-and-comer by some, Barnett got his start in comedy over a decade ago during his freshman year in college. He would go on to write for TV series like Broad City, The Carmichael Show, and Rel, which he created alongside Lil Rel Howery and Josh Rabinowitz.
Barnett also appeared in shows like MTV’s Guy Code, HBO’s Funny as Hell, and in Chris Rock’s Top Five, in addition to co-hosting The Roundtable of Gentlemen for the Last Podcast Network.
We will keep you posted as more information about Barnett’s death is revealed.
You can read some of the tributes shared by his fans, friends, and colleagues below.
