Melissa Etheridge's son dies at 21 after struggle with opioid addiction


Melissa Etheridge's 21-year-old son, Beckett Cypher, has died after struggling with opioid addiction, she announced this week.
"Today I joined the hundreds of thousands of families who have lost loved ones to opioid addiction," Etheridge said in a statement on Twitter. "My son Beckett, who was just 21, struggled to overcome his addiction and finally succumbed to it today. He will be missed by those who loved him, his family and friends. My heart is broken."
Beckett Cypher was Etheridge's son with Julie Cypher, her ex-partner, and David Crosby was the sperm donor. Crosby is the biological father of Cypher and Etheridge's daughter, Bailey Jean, as well, CBS notes.
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"We struggle with what else we could have done to save him, and in the end we know he is out of the pain now," Etheridge wrote.
Although one of the at-home concerts Etheridge has performed in recent weeks was canceled on Wednesday, she closed her heartbreaking statement by promising fans, "I will sing again, soon. It has always healed me."
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Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
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