Joel Taylor (pictured) the star of the Discovery Channel series Storm Chasers has passed away at the age of 38, reportedly from a suspected drug overdose, which is now the subject of an alleged FBI probe
The FBI has reportedly launched an investigation into the death of reality star Joel Tayor from a suspected drug overdose during an all-gay Caribbean cruise this week.
Taylor, 38, was found unresponsive in his cabin on board Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas on Tuesday when the boat docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
TMZ reported on Wednesday that the star of Discovery Channel’s Storm Chasers had passed out on the dance floor early Tuesday morning, after allegedly consuming a large quantity of the prescription narcolepsy medicine GHB during a raucous party.
According to the gossip site, party drugs, including ecstasy, cocaine and GHB, were in ample supply on board the ship, and several passengers had been arrested and taken off Harmony of the Seas before it set sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on January 20 for a seven-day cruise.
The focus of the alleged FBI probe, according to TMZ, would be the circumstances of Taylor’s sudden passing, how the illegal narcotics ended up on the boat and who supplied them.
DailyMail.com on Thursday reached out to FBI’s San Juan field office in order to independently confirm the launch of the investigation and was awaiting a reply.
Taylor was sailing to San Juan, Puerto Rico, on board Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas (pictured) when he passed away, possibly after ingesting a large quantity of GHB
DJ duo Galantis performs for passengers on board Harmony of the Seas on Tuesday
According to Royal Caribbean International’s official website, guests are prohibited from bringing on board illegal drugs and substances, along with weapons, hookhas, dangerous chemicals ‘and other items that could interfere with the safe operation or the ship of the safe and secure environment of our guests and crew.’
The section of the site that lists the prohibited items goes on to say: ‘These and other similar items will be confiscated upon being found. Alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, flammable liquids, explosives, and dangerous chemicals will not be returned.’
A cruise line representative told TMZ that the company has ‘zero tolerance’ policy concerning drugs.
It seemed to be business as usual on board the liner as Harmony of the Seas Captain Johnny Faevelen shared a number of photos to his Twitter from Tuesday evening and Wednesday with Grease star Olivia Newton-John who was performing on cruise. Revelers also shared pictures to Instagram of them continuing to party away.
So far, there is no word on Taylor’s official cause of death, but TMZ reported on Wednesday afternoon that according to law enforcement sources, Taylor had been taking controlled substances, which may have led to his death.
On Tuesday night captain Johnny Faevelen shared this photo to Twitter captioning it: ‘Who’s saying halo tonight? #OliviaNewtonJohn onboard the #Harmonyoftheseas What a lovely lady!!’
Johnny Faevelen posted this photo to Twitter captioning it: ‘Who’s driving the #Harmonyoftheseas today? #Megastar #OliviaNewtonJohn and her husband John. Great job Olivia ;-)’
A passenger claimed that the 38-year-old Discovery Channel reality star had ingested so much of the addictive narcolepsy medication GHB – often referred to as ‘club drug’ or ‘date rape drug’ – that he passed out on the dance floor and had to be carried back to his cabin by two other people.
The ship has parties in the day and evening and it is currently unclear which party he had been attending.
Newton-John and DJ duo Galantis performed for the passengers on Tuesday evening.
Captain Faevelen shared photos to his Twitter on Wednesday showing him posing with the Grease star and her husband. He captioned it: ‘Who’s driving the #Harmonyoftheseas today? #Megastar #OliviaNewtonJohn and her husband John. Great job Olivia ;-)’
Grease star: Olivia Newton-John is pictured left performing on the cruise ship on Tuesday. Pictured right, Instagram user calvin_hudson321 shared this snap captioned: ‘Backstage about to go and perform wth Olivia Newton John on the biggest #Gay cruise on earth!! #Blessed #RizzoAndKenickie #OliviaNewtonJohn #Grease #Atlantis #HarmonyOfTheSeas #Gay’
Instagram user kenfforsy shared this snap from Newton-John’s gig. It was captioned: ‘theConcert aboard #Atlantis #HarmonyoftheSeas with #OliviaNewtonJohn’
Olivia Newton-John and DJ duo Galantis performed for the passengers on Tuesday evening. Newton-John’s performance to crowds is pictured above
On Tuesday night he also shared a selfie with the star captioned: ‘Who’s saying halo tonight? #OliviaNewtonJohn onboard the #Harmonyoftheseas What a lovely lady!!’
A clip from Tuesday night showed Newton-John in a bedazzled jacket, backed by a quartet of Pink Ladies, performing the iconic song from Grease Summer Nights.
The captain also shared a post to Twitter Wednesday afternoon showing that the ship had arrived in St Maarten.
Another video shared on social media from the concert showed a massive crowd of people swaying to Galantis’ thumping electronic dance music beats and various other snaps showed the cruisers enjoying the events on board.
The ship was charted by a private company called Atlantis Events, which bills itself as ‘the leader in all-gay vacations’ and ‘the world’s largest gay and lesbian specialty vacation company,’ according to its site.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the page on Atlantis’ website advertising the ‘all-gay Caribbean Cruise on Harmony of the Seas’ running from January 20-27 has been taken down and replaced with a ‘Error 404’ message.
Captain Johnny Faevelen shared this photo on Wednesday afternoon showing that the ship had arrived in St Maarten
A view from the stage during Galantis’ concert on Harmony of the Seas on Tuesday
Party goers shared snaps to Instagram on Wednesday enjoying the party on board the ship. Pictured left, Instagram user icaughtulooking captioned the snap: ‘Just another day in the life of a #unicorn #atlantiscruises #instagay #harmonyoftheseas #outofspaceparty #themeparties.’ Pictured right, Iamheadstoned shared this snap captioned: ‘These queens took their HeadStones to the seas! @paulheald and @dcguycohe rocking their custom hats on the Atlantis cruise! #iamheadstoned #sparklyaf #internationalwaters #edmgays #gayswhorave #atlantiscruise #swarovski #clack #pizza #harmonyoftheseas #atlantis’
On Wednesday Instagram user seansmoresays shared this snap and captioned it: ‘Day 3: Dog Tag tea dance. The biggest party ever. SO much fun in the sun. #seanandemi #dogtagtea #atlantisevents #gayguys #gold #smile #instagay #party #gaymuscle #man #harmonyoftheseas #sexy #january #inked #gaycouple’
Instagram user mkrispinsson shared this photo Wednesday from on board the ship showing cruisers continuing to party
The cruise set sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on January 20 for a seven-day cruise to Eastern Caribbean, with stops along the way in Labadee, Haiti, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Philipsburg, St Maarten, before returning to Florida.
According to People his family have identified his body in San Juan. Taylor’s cause of death is still unknown and an autopsy has yet to be performed.
Ricardo Castrodad, public affairs officer for the Coast Guard’s San Juan sector, said: ‘The U.S. Coast Guard in San Juan, Puerto Rico was notified today in the afternoon by the Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas cruise ship that they had a death on board.’
Castrodad says the Coast Guard has yet to inspect the ship.
Funeral director Richard Duggar II said in a statement on behalf of Taylor’s family: ‘We can confirm that Joel Taylor has passed away while on a cruise.
‘The cause of the death has not yet been determined. We ask for your understanding during this difficult time and your respect for the family while they deal with the loss of their son.’
Meanwhile, devastated friends and fans have been paying tribute to the much-loved Storm Chaser star. His co-star Reed Timmer, who followed tornadoes with him across America, announced the shocking news on Twitter.
He uploaded photographs of Taylor and wrote: ‘RIP my best friend and storm chasing partner, Joel Taylor.
‘I am shocked and absolutely devastated by the loss of my incredible, caring friend.
Party boat: The ship was chartered by a private company called Atlantis Events, which bills itself as ‘the leader in all-gay vacations’. The captain posted this photo on Monday. It was captioned: ‘Time for T – dance in the #Aquatheater onboard the #Harmonyoftheseas #Atlantis #cruise’
On Monday the captain also shared this photo captioned: ‘My #Harmonyoftheseas’ #Croatian #Navigation team are looking forward to a day on the beach in beautiful #Labadee with the #Atlantis guests’
Taylor’s (above) co-star Reed Timmer (pictured together with him right) revealed the devastating news on Twitter on Wednesday morning
‘We chased so many intense storms, and I wish we could have just one more storm chase. I’ll miss you forever, Joel. We lost a legend.’
Heartbroken fans also reacted to the news of his passing and thanked the pair for inspiring them to study the weather.
Riley Carlton tweeted: ‘I grew up watching Joel Taylor and Reed Timmer on Discovery, they are a major reason I want to study meteorology.
‘It hurts my heart that Joel passed away.’
Team Western OK Chaser, a group based in Oklahoma, wrote on Facebook: ‘Our community of Elk City and the Storm Chasing community lost a great guy today. Joel Taylor was truly an inspiration to myself and many who knew him.
Timmer uploaded this photograph on Twitter and said he ‘wished they could have one more storm chase’ together
Heartbroken fans also reacted to the news of his passing and thanked him for inspiring them to study the weather
‘He was one of the most level headed chasers on the roads and truly a classy guy outside of chasing.
‘He didn’t chase for the glory he chased because he had a true passion for storms.
‘In the last few years he’d load up with his dad and go chase and not even take a camera.
‘Our hearts are hurting for his mom Tracy and dad Jimmy along with his brother and sister and their children. Please know you are in our prayers. RIP Joel.’
A later post said his death was not related to chasing storms.
It read: ‘ Many people have asked how Joel passed away. For the sake of no false information and repeated reply’s to the question. This is my reply. There is no answer at this time. The medical professionals are trying to determine the cause.’
Taylor’s last Facebook post on 15 January gave no sign of any health problems. He wrote: ‘My first niece arrived this morning!’
Taylor met Timmer while studying meteorology after he became fascinated by severe storms and tornadoes.
Storm Chasers was first aired on 2007 and follows a team which attempt to intercept tornadoes in America’s Tornado Alley.
Taylor, 38, was found unresponsive in his cabin on board the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Harmony of the Seas on Tuesday, after the ship docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Taylor (left) met Timmer (right) while studying meteorology after he became fascinated by severe storms and tornadoes