Comedian awake, breathing on his own after suicide attempt

EntertainmentComedian Carrot Top arrives at the CBS Daytime After Dark comedy event at The Comedy Store on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013 in West Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)Chris Pizzello/Invision/APBy Kelly Corbett | kcorbett@syracuse.comComedian Carrot Top is awake and breathing on his own following an alleged suicide attempt on Friday, according to Page Six.His rep Jami Schlicher told the outlet on Sunday that Carrot Top, whose real name is Scott Thompson, remains under close medical care but is continuing to improve. “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,” she said.The hospitalization comes amid allegations that 61-year-old was being extorted over a sexually explicit video. Per Page Six, court documents filed Sept. 3 in Broward County, Florida, show that Thompson’s attorney, Ronnie Bitman, claimed musician Brian Evans threatened to leak an X-rated video of the comedian if he was not paid.Evans previously served as an opening performer for Thompson’s show at the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Thompson has maintained a residency at the Luxor since 2005. Carrot Top’s shows for the past weekend were canceled, and the future of his residency remains unclear.The Luxor Hotel and Casino did, however, wish him the best in a statement to KLAS. “Scott is a beloved member of the Luxor and MGM Resorts family, and we are relieved to hear that he is recovering. We are thinking of him and wish him strength as he receives the care and support he needs.”*****If you or a loved one is in crisis, help is available.Dial 911 if you or someone is in immediate danger.National Suicide Prevention Hotline, 1-800-273-8255. This toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline is available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. By dialing 1-800-273-TALK, the call is routed to the nearest crisis center in a national network of more than 150 crisis centers, including Contact Community Services in Syracuse.988 Suicide & crisis lifeline: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, this confidential, free service can be accessed by calling or texting 988. You can chat at 988lifeline.org.Contact Community Services Hotline, (315)-251-0600, provides 24-hour telephone counseling.Veterans and Military Crisis Line, 1-800-273-8255 Press 1.Crisis Text Line, a texting service for emotional crisis support. To speak with a trained listener, text HELLO to 741741. It is free, available 24/7 and confidential.Kelly Corbett is a Trending News Reporter for syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. She covers a wide range of topics from celebrity and TV news to store closings and product recalls. In addition to syracuse.com,...