‘Celebrity Rehab’ Mindy McCready’s death casts dark shadow on show

Country star and Celebrity Rehab participant Mindy McCready’s death has sparked outrage among show watchers, who count the singer’s Sunday death the fifth for the production — and the third from Season 3 alone.

Already, show watchers were wondering if the production was under some strange curse that pushed participants to death. But Ms. McCready’s apparent suicide raises speculation to a new level. Singer Richard Marx has compared show host Dr. Drew Pinksky to assisted suicide’s Dr. Jack Kevorkian: “Same results,” he tweeted, according to the Associated Press.

“It is, however, my opinion that what Dr. D does is exploitation and his TV track record is not good,” Mr. Marx wrote, according to AP.

“Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew” is not currently on air, AP reports. But Ms. McCready was featured in 2009 during Season 3, along with former NBA star Dennis Rodman and actress Mackenzie Phillips, AP reports. Dr. Drew diagnosed her on the show with a “love addiction,” according to AP, and then called her an “angel” in the season finale.

Following her weekend death, he issued this statement: “She is a lovely woman who will be missed by many. Although I have not treated her for a few years, I had reached out to her recently upon hearing about the apparent suicide of her boyfriend and father of her younger [son]. She was devastated. Although she was fearful of stigma and ridicule, she agreed with me that she needed to make her health and safety a priority. Unfortunately, it seems that Mindy did not sustain her treatment.”

That theme — of not sustaining treatment — is one that seems common to the show. Other Season 3 participants that died were Mike Starr, the bassist for Alice in Chains, and Joey Kovar, of “Real World.” Other show participants who also died include Rodney King, of Los Angeles riots’ fame, and actor Jeff Conaway.

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SEE ALSO: Singer Mindy McCready dies in apparent suicide

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This article was based in part on a wire service reports