Darrel Sheets’ Storage Wars costars say that, like the late reality TV star, they are subjected to cyberbullying every single day.
“We’ve all had a little bit of that,” Dave Hester exclusively told Us Weekly on Friday, April 24. “We’ve been at this 16, 17 years, and so there’s always people [who] want to get on the internet and say rude things, but I don’t even pay attention to it.”
He continued, “I don’t understand cyberbullying because when people have something bad to say, I don’t even waste my time. If you wanna support me, that’s great. You don’t want to support me, that’s fine too. It doesn’t bother me.”
Us confirmed on Wednesday, April 22, that Sheets died by an apparent suicide. He was 67.
A spokesperson for the Lake Havasu City Police Department told Us that authorities responded to a call in the early morning hours on Wednesday. Officers were dispatched to an Arizona residence, where they discovered the reality star’s body.
An official cause of death has not been confirmed as the incident is under active investigation.
Prior to his death, Sheets discussed his experience with depression via social media.
“Depression is the Devil’s way of attacking us,” Sheets wrote via Instagram in June 2018. “It knows no mercy, it takes our smiles it comes and goes, it ruins our relationships, it takes away our happiness, it leads to suicide in some cases, it destroys all thoughts of positivity, it is a 24/7 battle and allows no rest for the suffering.”
Sheets’ show rival, Rene Nezhoda, claimed former Storage Wars costar experienced cyberbullying before his untimely death.
“I know Darrell would want something positive out of this,” he said in a video obtained by TMZ. “He had a guy really tormenting him lately on cyberbullying. Just cause you watch us on television doesn’t mean you know us … it doesn’t mean you know what we’re about. Also it doesn’t entitle you to bully somebody.”
Nezhoda spoke exclusively to Us about Sheet’s alleged experience online, adding he has also been the subject of online bullying.
Subscribe to newsletters 
“I know some of the stuff that Darrell told me [about this], and then also what he posted, obviously,” he told Us on Friday. “Life has its ups and downs, but when you already have a lot of pressure on your back, and then you have to deal with [cyberbullying] on top of it? Every day, we have people telling us we’re fat, we’re not good enough, we’re broke. Our wives are cheating on us, like, pretty much whatever you can imagine.”
He added, “Honestly, I didn’t take it that serious, because that’s something we all deal with every day. So when we hear that, we take it with a grain of salt. But he did tell me that this person is really doing a lot of stuff, but I just didn’t take it as serious, or was as concerned, because it’s just part of it.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
