After suffering from a terrible case of “foot in mouth disease,” Scott Baio appears to be stepping back from comments he made about his former co-star.
Here’s the gist:
Erin Moran, aka Joanie Cunningham of Happy Days and Joanie Loves Chachi fame, passed away April 22 at age 56 from complications related to stage four throat cancer. Moran, who openly discussed her years-long battle with depression, had fallen on hard times in recent years, and had a reputation for partying hard.
It’s worth noting, however, that toxicology reports are pending as of this writing and that there were no illegal substances found in Moran’s home.
But in an interview on the “Bernie & Sid” radio show Monday, Scott Baio (that’s Chachi Arcola, FYI) did not mince words when discussing Moran’s death.
“For me, you do drugs or drink, you’re gonna die,” Baio said at the time. “I’m sorry if that’s cold, but God gave you a brain, gave you the will to live and thrive, and you gotta take care of yourself.”
He continued: “And I don’t know if it was drugs that killed her. I read one report that it might have been and I hope … I don’t know what I hope.”
The backlash was immediate. In a Facebook post, the contentious actor attempted to clear the air.
“Saturday, April 22nd around 3:30 PM my wife received a text message saying Erin Moran had died,” Baio wrote. “I couldn’t believe it. NO PRESS OR MEDIA HAD REPORTED THIS. I thought it may be a hoax. Shortly after that TMZ reported this to be true, along with every other news outlet to follow. I was sad, in disbelief, sick to my stomach, and in complete shock.
Sunday, April 23rd I sat in my office, collected my thoughts to post a statement. I wanted to remember all the best, my most fondest times with Erin. I was still trying to process this loss.”
Then: “Later that evening, the Internet and television stations were blasting headlines “Erin Moran died due to a heroine overdose “. This made me very upset and angry. This is one of my worse fears for her, or anyone else. Especially in this business. I was on an emotional rollercoaster. I hadn’t slept well since the news of her passing.
Monday, April 24th at 6AM Pacific time I did a live radio interview. I was asked ONLY about Erin’s troubled past due to drug & alcohol abuse. I was still upset and said I felt that living that kind of a lifestyle will catch up with you and nothing good would come of it.
THIS WAS BEFORE THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS ANNOUNCED STATING STAGE 4 CANCER.
Now it seems every news outlet & tabloid wants to paint a different picture of me and of what really happened. They’re stating that I’m saying drugs caused her to die after it was reported stage 4 cancer. This is so wrong! Now I truly understand the meaning of “Fake News”. This is crazy.”
“I am still trying to process this loss,” Baio wrote.
“Erin was my very first real girlfriend. My wife and Erin contacted each other and spoke often for over a decade. I even had her on my reality show years ago. I DID reach out to her over a span of 30 years. Please stop assuming the worse [sic] in me. I’m a compassionate person. I’m very heartbroken over her passing, especially since it was cancer.”
Baio also expressed his condolences on Twitter.
And yet:
Foot in mouth disease, right?
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