Shaun Weiss issues promising update after devastating video of child star sparks concern
The Mighty Ducks star Shaun Weiss has issued an update on Tylor Chase, after a video of the former Nickelodeon star seemingly living on the streets went viral.
For those who aren't up to date, concern was sparked after a social media video of Chase, 36, suggested he's currently homeless in Riverside, California.
Chase is best known for his role as Martin Qwerly in the Nickelodeon TV series Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide from the 2000s. He also appeared in Everybody Hates Chris and the 2007 movie Good Time Max, but aside from that, he's largely remained under the radar until recently.
After fans spotted him seemingly living on the streets and he confirmed his identity, people around the world have flocked to help, including Weiss.
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The actor and comedian, 46, who has been vocal about his own recovery from substance abuse and struggles with homelessness, took to Instagram to plead with the public to help find the former child star.
He said in a video: "I have received many messages about [Tylor Chase]. I reached out to some friends of mine, and we have a bed for him at a detox, and we have a place for him to go and get long-term treatment."
Chase added: "All we need to do now is find him. I’m not in Los Angeles, or I would go look for him myself."
The American actor and comedian said that if anyone can 'get a face-to-face' with Chase, 'please DM me so we can get him some help in time for the holidays'.
And that's seemingly what happened, as Jacob Harris, an influencer and owner of Shipwreck Barbershops in California, claims he managed to locate Chase and get him into a rehab centre.
Riverside Police Department Public Information Officer Ryan Railsback told The Daily Mail that they weren't sure how long he'd been 'experiencing homelessness', adding: "During all of our interactions, he has been cordial and cooperative with our officers."
He also added that their Public Safety Engagement Team 'contact him at least once a week and consistently offer a variety of resources, including assistance with temporary shelter options', though Chase has supposedly declined their offers.
Now, as we say, Weiss has issued an update on Chase, admitting we're not 'out of the woods' but confirmed 'he seems receptive and willing to enter treatment'.
Explaining his decision to help, Weiss told Tyla in a statement: "The Comedian Russell Peters sent me the video of Ty that's gone viral with a message 'let's save this guy'.
"Russell has been very good to me. So out of gratitude alone he has a soldier in me and I began to approach 'let's save this guy' as marching orders."
He continued: "There might not be another person on Earth that could relate to that video better than I can. From child star to homeless vagabond, panhandling for drug money is a club very few have joined.
"I was instantly flashed back to that feeling of hopeless desperation, wherein within each moment contains an overwhelming blend of fear, sadness and shame.
"I really never knew how cruel humans could be until I saw life from the panhandler's point of view."
Weiss went on to say that he'd 'found him [Chase] a bed at one of the only reputable treatment facilities I know in LA that isn't what's known as a body shop where they literally 'broker bodies' with the intent of bilking insurance companies'.
"Mike Jordan, owner of the facility Eleven 11 Recovery in San Clemente, agreed to take him into his inpatient recovery program as well as long-term housing on a scholarship," he said.
"Tylor has a lot of fans that love him. Within hours of making my post I received dozens of tips on his whereabouts that led to one of his fans actually making contact with Tylor.
"He seems receptive and willing to enter treatment. I have since spoken with his parents who have been devastated since losing contact with him five months ago.
"The next step is getting him an 'assessment' to determine what level of care he needs and which features are necessary for his detox program. We are not out of the woods yet. But over the next few days we'll be working hard to find him the care he requires."
The actor promisingly signed off with: "If he's ready He will have access to the resources necessary to turn his life around. I am living proof that it can be done."
Tyla has previously contacted Chase's representatives and Nickelodeon for comment.
Topics: Celebrity, Entertainment, News, Life, Real Life, TV And Film
Madison Burgess