Carrot Top is home with his family after a week in critical care.
The comedian, 61, whose real name is Scott Thompson, was discharged from the hospital and is now recovering at his Las Vegas residence, his rep confirmed. He had been hospitalized since Sept. 18 following a suicide attempt at his home.
Thompson was found unconscious near his backyard pool after his manager called police for a welfare check, according to a police report. The manager had spoken with Thompson by phone shortly before the incident, during which the comic expressed concern about an article set to be published about him.
After that call ended, Thompson sent his manager a one-word text and stopped responding.
His rep, Jami Schlicher, had shared an encouraging update on Sept. 20 while he remained hospitalized. “Scott remains hospitalized and under close medical care. He is now awake, breathing on his own and continuing to improve, surrounded by his family and those closest to him,” Schlicher said at the time.
Thompson had even been sharing “moments of humor” with his medical team, Schlicher added. She noted that messages from fans had been passed along to him, including stories about how his comedy helped people through difficult periods in their own lives.
“Hearing those stories and feeling that support has meant a great deal to him during his recovery,” Schlicher said.
The hospitalization came amid a legal dispute with musician Brian Evans, who previously opened for Thompson’s show at the Luxor Hotel and Casino. Thompson’s attorney, Ronnie Bitman, alleged in a Sept. 3 court filing that Evans threatened to publicly file a sexually explicit video of the comedian unless he was paid $500,000.
Evans denied the extortion allegations. “I never threatened — ever — to post any video anywhere in exchange for a settlement,” he said. He also claimed the video had been “deleted a long time ago” in accordance with a previous settlement.
Thompson’s attorneys referenced his suicide attempt in subsequent court filings while seeking protective relief in the ongoing case.
Thompson has held a residency at the Luxor since 2005, but the show went on hiatus when he was hospitalized. Reports said Friday that Carrot Top canceled his Las Vegas shows for the next three weeks.
Schlicher said Thompson and his family were “deeply grateful for the extraordinary kindness” they had received and asked that his privacy be respected during recovery.
Thompson’s manager had grown alarmed after the phone call and the single text, prompting the welfare check that led to Thompson being rushed to a local hospital where he remained for nearly a week before his discharge.
The comedian’s condition was critical when he first arrived at the hospital, but he improved steadily enough over several days to return home.
Thompson’s attorneys continue to pursue protective relief in the court dispute with Evans as the comedian focuses on recovery.
Carrot Top’s next scheduled performances at the Luxor remain canceled through early October with no confirmed return date.