The original Blue's Clues host, Steve Burns, reflected on the rumors about his alleged death on the internet after he exited the series.
When Burns departed the hit Nickelodeon preschool series, there were persistent rumors and speculations online that he had passed away when he finished his tenure. While it's been debunked many times, it continued to spread around the web.
Steve Burns Reflects on the Death Rumor and His Depression
In an interview on Rainn Wilson's Soul Bloom podcast, Burns reflected on the responses that he received regarding the rumors of his alleged death after his tenure on Blue's Clues ended.
"When a rumor like that persists for three or four years, it stops being funny. When it persists for 10 years, it feels like a cultural preference. When it persists for 15 or 20 years, you start to feel like you’re supposed to be," he said.
The original Blues' Clues host also got candid about the rumor that the change of host in the series happened because of his alleged death.
"What a lot of people don’t understand is that during the show, the internet was beginning to internet, and the world decided, or a large portion of the world decided, that I had died," Burns said.
He added that he was in the "throes of this depression after I left the show," and the rumor is "not what you want to hear when you’re severely clinically depressed."
Burns continued, "I didn’t recognize me. Everyone thought I was dead, and eventually I started playing along."
Steve Burns in Recent Years
Burns went viral again a few years ago as he posted videos on social media that comforted the fans of the original series who are now grown-ups.
He created the Instagram handle "@steveburnsalive" to interact with fans and post updates on social media.
He was also involved in the revival series Blue's Clues & You!, where he served as one of the directors and writers. He occasionally makes guest appearances, including the first episode where he passed the baton to new host Joshua Dela Cruz.
Burns shared the screen with the other Blue's Clues hosts in the Paramount+ original film Blue's Big City Adventure in 2022.
What do you think of Burns' remarks? Let us know in the comments!
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