Ryan Channing, Ian Thorpe’s ex-boyfriend and the CEO of a skincare firm Blaq Group, has died unexpectedly at the age of 32 in Bali. According to Daily Telegraph, a friend told the outlet that Channing was battling health issues for which he was admitted to a hospital in Bali.
So, who was Ryan Channing? And, how did he die? Here is what we know:
Who was Ryan Channing?
Ryan Channing, who was from Perth, Western Australia, worked as a model, lawyer, and skincare entrepreneur. As a model, he spent time living and working abroad in New York, Paris and Milan before going to university to study commerce, marketing, intellectual property and international law.
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Channing worked as a lawyer in both Sydney and Paris from 2015 to 2017. In 2016, he launched his own skincare company Blaq and later founded The Blaq Group – which involved brands Blaq, Flight Mode, and Generation Clay – in 2018. His LinkedIn bio states:
‘Generating millions of annual unit sales in both Australia and internationally across his three brands, Ryan has earnt his reputation as one of Australia’s most influential e-commerce entrepreneurs.’
In July last year, he said he was filming a pilot for a Netflix reality show in Los Angeles, called The Skintrepreneurs.
Ryan Channing Cause of Death
Ryan Channing – a model, lawyer, and skincare entrepreneur – died Sunday, May 8 at the age of 32. He passed away suddenly after he was rushed to Bali’s BIMC Hospital on Sunday. His cause of death hasn’t been disclosed yet.
Channing’s younger brother, Jake, confirmed the news of his tragic death in a statement, paying tribute to his ‘big brother‘. He wrote:
‘Seeing as the news headlines beat my whole family to posting about this unfortunate time in our lives, it’s with a heavy heart I announce that my brother Ryan has recently passed away on Sunday the 8th of May at 32 years of age.”
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Jake continued:
‘As we seek answers and try come to terms with the heartbreaking loss of my beautiful big brother, we ask for your prayers, support and privacy, he will be forever loved, never forgotten and forever young. To my big brother, I love you, I’ll see you one day soon you’ll be missed more than you know.’
His Perth-based sister Charis wrote:
“Saying goodbye to you on Sunday was the hardest thing my family and I have ever had to do. 32 years young, you’re gone too soon.”
Channing’s last post on Instagram revealed he had been diagnosed and hospitalised with Covid at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital, however, his brother confirmed his death wasn’t related.
A representative for Channing’s ex-partner, Ian Thorpe, said his ‘thoughts are with Ryan’s family’. However, the swimmer has yet to address the news publicly.
Further details about the cause of Channing’s death and his funeral will be updated very soon.
Ryan Channing and Ian Thorpe Relationship History
Ryan Channing was the first long term boyfriend of former Olympic swimming champion, Ian Thorpe, after he came out as gay. The two dated for four years until they ended their on-again, off-again relationship in 2019.
At one point, Channing and Thorpe were even considering having a child through surrogacy.
In early 2019, Channing told Daily Mail Australia:
‘Becoming parents is something that Ian and myself would love to make happen. Unfortunately the laws in Australia are difficult for same sex males in regards to surrogacy – California state law has really progressed in this space which makes it the best option legally.’
He added:
‘Something I would love to see progress further in Australia so same sex couples don’t have to travel abroad to achieve their family goals.’
After the split, Thorpe told The Daily Telegraph that their separation was ‘very amicable’ and they have stayed ‘friends’.
