Angus Cloud’s Mother Says He “Did Not Intend” To Die

The mother of Euphoria star Angus Cloud, who died on Monday at age 25, spoke out about her son’s passing Friday night. In a Facebook post that seemed intended to address rumors that Cloud had taken his own life, Lisa Cloud said that it is “abundantly clear that he did not intend to check out of this world,” and that she believes his death might have been an accidental overdose of drugs.

Cloud, an up-and-coming actor who shot to fame for his role as beloved drug dealer Fezco O’Neill in the HBO series, was found dead at around 11:30 a.m. Monday by responders from the Oakland, California fire department, the agency said in a statement. According to 911 call audio obtained by TMZ, his mother called emergency services to report a “possible overdose,” and said then that her son did not appear to have a pulse.

Cloud’s family confirmed his death via written statement Monday, saying that “last week he buried his father and intensely struggled with this loss. The only comfort we have is knowing Angus is now reunited with his dad, who was his best friend. Angus was open about his battle with mental health and we hope that his passing can be a reminder to others that they are not alone and should not fight this on their own in silence.”

Those references to a struggle with grief and to Cloud’s mental health were taken by many to mean that he had died by suicide, speculation likely bolstered by reported comments from family members that Cloud “had been battling suicidal thoughts” since a trip last month to scatter his late father’s ashes in Ireland. 

Cloud’s father, Conor Hickey, died in Oakland on May 18, his former rugby team announced at the time; his family traveled to his hometown to scatter his ashes in July, where (per the Daily Mail) a family friend noted Cloud’s “fragile state” and said “he was a broken man.”

But on Friday night, Cloud’s mother sought to put some of those rumors to rest, writing on Facebook that “although my son was in deep grief about his father’s untimely death from mesothelioma, his last day was a joyful one.”

“He was reorganizing his room and placing items around the house with intent to stay a while in the home he loved,” Lisa Cloud wrote. “He spoke of his intent to help provide for his sisters at college, and also help his mom emotionally and financially. He did not intend to end his life.”

“We may find out that he overdosed accidentally and tragically,” Lisa Cloud wrote. ”Social media posts have suggested his death was intentional. I want you to know that is not the case.”

The Oakland Police Department is handling the investigation into Angus Cloud’s death, but did not have any new information to share as when contacted by Vanity Fair. According to a spokesperson with the Alameda County Coroner’s Office, Cloud’s cause of death has yet to be officially determined, they told VF.

If you need emotional support or are in crisis, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.