X Factor star Freddie Combs has passed away at the age of 49.
His grieving wife Kay confirmed to TMZ that the singer has died in his hospital bed as family and friends gathered around him.
“I have so much gratitude to be his wife for 25 years and to be his best friend,” she expressed.
Kay also shared that Freddie, who had been battling a weight problem for years, had passed away from kidney failure and she “knew” the day before that he would pass.
She also said that he did not contract coronavirus.
The singer had worked very hard to lose weight for more than 10 years after a “near-death experience.”
Kay said that Freddie had managed to shed pounds from 920lbs to 385lbs in the past 11 years.
When Freddie was on the X Factor in 2012, he weighed around 530lbs and had to be sitting on a wheelchair as he performed.
Demi Lovato and Britney Spears were the judges at that time and Khloe Kardashian and Mario Lopez were the hosts.
Freddie impressed L.A. Reid and Simon Cowell when he performed Wind Beneath My Wings. Spears also said he was ‘shockingly amazing.’ However, music producers said he had to get ‘healthy’ before they could take him on as a mentee.
“I don’t believe you deserve to be stuck in this chair. I’ll back you if you back yourself,” Simon told him.
Freddie also talked about his weight on X Factor.
“I was bedridden and never came out of the house,” he expressed. “My music was never heard. My biggest dream would be to give hope to people who are my size. I hope the judges will look past my exterior and give a fat boy a chance.”
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