NBC’s The Voice Season 8 contestant Antony Riley has died of an apparent suicide. He was 28.
According to media reports, the Philadelphia-based street singer was found dead in the basement of his home on Friday, June 5, 2015.
Philly.com confirmed that Riley took his own life.
“Riley took his life, and was found Friday in the basement of the Center City apartment where he was staying, said Tootsie Iovine. Iovine and her brothers both own shops in Reading Terminal, and had been “like family” to Riley.”
Riley was on Team Pharrell and won his first battle round, but left the show voluntarily, telling producers he needed to deal with substance abuse issues.
See Also: Reason Why Anthony Riley Quits The Voice Season 8
During his audition on The Voice, Riley made history by having all four judges turn their chairs around faster than any previous episodes on the show.
Riley spent time in Las Vegas and started to make a name for himself as a street performer. In 2007, he briefly made headlines after being charged with disorderly conduct over his public singing, charges over which he successfully sued the city. In 2014, Philadelphia Magazine called him the city’s best street performer.