Debby Ryan, known for starring in Insatiable and Life of the Party, launched her acting career as a beloved Disney Channel icon, starring in hit series like The Suite Life on Deck, 16 Wishes, and most notably Jessie. While Jessie holds a special place in her heart, the show is also a bittersweet reminder of her late co-star, Cameron Boyce, who tragically passed away in 2019. The loss of Boyce shook not only his family and fans but deeply affected Ryan, who faced intense public pressure during her grieving process.
Skai Jackson, Peyton List, Karan Brar, Debby Ryan, Kevin Chamberlin, and Cameron Boyce attend Disney Channel’s 100-episode celebration for ‘Jessie’ at Hollywood Center Studios on February 12, 2015, in Los Angeles, California (Credit: WENN)
Following Boyce’s passing, rumors about Debby Ryan’s health began circulating online. Some claimed that Ryan had suffered a heart attack after learning the tragic news.
This false rumor gained traction after a viral YouTube video claimed she had been rushed to the hospital. However, as fact-checking sites confirmed, these reports were untrue. Ryan did not immediately release a statement, which led fans to speculate about her silence. In reality, Ryan was grieving privately, away from the public eye.
The Tragic Loss of Cameron Boyce: What Really Happened
Today reported that the 20-year-old Disney Channel sensation’s cause of death was from “sudden unexpected death in epilepsy,” according to the confirmation of the Los Angeles County coroner’s office following an autopsy on July 8.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, the sunny-dispositioned actor was initially found in his North Hollywood home unresponsive. His death was ruled as natural on July 6, 2019, according to the coroner’s report published by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner.
Libby Boyce, Maya Boyce, and Victor Boyce smile for a photo at an event honoring the legacy of their beloved son and brother, Cameron Boyce (Credit: WENN)
A member of the family spoke out on July 10, pointing out that Boyce’s “tragic passing was due to a seizure as a result of an ongoing medical condition, and that condition was epilepsy.”
Boyce’s family released separate statements recalling their cherished (although short) time with Cameron. His father, Victor Boyce, tweeted, “I’m overwhelmed with the love and support our family has received. It really does help to ease the pain of this nightmare I can’t wake up from. I can’t thank you guys enough.”
Victor Boyce expresses his gratitude on Twitter for the overwhelming support his family received after the tragic passing of his son, Cameron Boyce
His sister Maya also took to social media to remember her big brother, “Yes, he died. Yes, I’m sad. Cameron was my best friend. He is someone I will always idolize. His smile could light up a room, unlike anyone else’s. He was perfect. He always said that if you have a voice, you have the privilege of using that voice for change, and he did not take that idea lightly. He understood his responsibility as someone so many kids would look up to. Cameron always went out of his way to be giving and kind.”
View this post on Instagram
How the World Reacted to Cameron Boyce’s Passing
The news of Cameron Boyce’s death spread quickly across social media. Charles Esten (Boyce’s father in Jessie) addressed his co-star’s passing on Twitter, writing, “My family and I are devastated today by the loss of our young and amazing friend, Cameron Boyce.”
A young Cameron Boyce flashes a bright smile at the premiere of Eagle Eye in Los Angeles on September 16, 2008, in Los Angeles, California (Credit: WENN)
Reminiscing about Boyce’s first talent show at the elementary school he attended along with Esten’s kids, “It was there we were introduced to his endless talent, kindness, and joy for living. At his very first talent show, little Cameron’s dancing lit up the stage and left everyone on their feet, cheering.”
According to ABC News, other co-stars posted heartfelt condolences to Boyce’s family online. But someone very near and dear to Boyce was missing from the conversation.
Debby Ryan’s Quiet Grief: Fans Question Her Silence
Fellow Jessie co-star Ryan had not yet released a statement regarding Cameron Boyce’s death. While Debby liked Esten’s tweet about Boyce, fans felt this was insufficient and demanded an immediate statement.
Debby Ryan was rumored to have had a heart attack after learning that her former co-star Cameron Boyce had passed away (Credit: WENN)
Taking to her comment sections on her most recent Instagram posts to communicate their disdain for her ‘unbothered behavior,’ it ultimately caused Ryan to lock down her comment section, according to Heavy.
Pop Culture dug up some tweets and found that a few people following the saga went to Ryan’s defense in her comment section saying, “I feel like all these comments shouldn’t be said at all, maybe she’s tryna (sic) process it like I still am. Please respect her and not post RIP CAMERON BOYCE.”
Her lack of transparency with her and Boyce’s fans made the fandom assume the worst. The only possible reason for Ryan’s absence must be because she was hauled away to the hospital from a heart attack!
This outlandish rumor started picking up steam, with more fans rushing to Twitter to confirm this breaking news. One fan tweeted, “I can’t find any articles about [Debby Ryan] being rushed to the hospital for a heart attack, so until I have proof, I’m assuming this is a rumor.”
Uncovering the Heart Attack Rumor: The Truth Behind the Speculation
Two days after Cameron Boyce’s death, the fact-checking website Snopes reached into the deepest corners of the internet to uncover the truth behind Ryan’s heart attack (alleged heart attack).
Snopes traced the rumor to a viral YouTube video posted by @Dancetayley titled “Debby Ryan Rushed to Hospital After Finding Out About Cameron Boyce.”
Before it was removed, the video had over 3 million views and included screen-shotted tweets ‘praying for Ryan’ but had no verified origins.
Debby Ryan and Celebrity Gossip: A History of Misunderstandings
Surprisingly enough, this is not the first time Ryan has been a victim of celebrity gossip. According to Refinery29, fans mistook the death of famous actress Debbie Reynolds for 23-year-old Debby Ryan, causing a lot of confusion amongst fans.
Debbie Reynolds (left) and Debby Ryan (right) have often been confused by fans due to their similar names, leading to a misunderstanding after Reynolds’ passing in 2016 (Credit: WENN)
However, Ryan wasted no time reaching out to her devastated and mourning followers via Twitter to clear the air, “No… guys, that’s very thoughtful but its Reynolds. Debbie Reynolds…”
Debby Ryan’s Emotional Tribute to Cameron Boyce: Why the Delay?
Ryan eventually expressed her sentiments on social media. According to Snopes, she posted Boyce’s 2018 acceptance speech at the Thirst Gala for the coveted Pioneering Spirit award.
In this speech, Boyce shares some wisdom beyond his years: “It’s crazy. We can tweet whenever we want, and we can use social media and Instagram and make the world a better place, instead of a worse one, which so many people use it for…” Does this ring any bells for those who cyberbullied Ryan out of her private grieving?
Debby Ryan’s heart attack may have been a rumor, but is she suffering from a broken heart still? Now that’s a different story.
In October 2013, she again chose to show her mature side at People Magazine’s Ones to Watch party in Los Angeles.
Debby Ryan stuns in a floral print dress paired with bold red lipstick and a statement necklace at People’s Ones to Watch party in Los Angeles on October 9, 2013 (Credit: WENN)
Although her red lipstick was an unflattering way to achieve this look, Debby gave a fierce and hot vibe. Her red lips matched the very chic Lublu floral dress, which was paired with Bionda Castana heels.
Her heels perfected her outfit and added a romantic-dramatic appeal to her look. They feature mesh material, which remains in style these days. You probably have noticed several celebrities wearing mesh-paneled pumps and booties during the past weeks.
Debby Ryan shows off her feet in Bionda Castana pumps (Credit: WENN)
Debby Ryan embraced the trend. Aside from that, Bionda Castana quickly became one of the go-to brands for many Hollywood stars.
Debby’s Bionda Castana pumps looked great with her dress. They are made of black suede with zigzag details, have pointed toes, a leather-tie ankle fastening, and have about 5 inches of heels.
Black Bionda Castana “Lana” Pumps, $679
Bionda Castana “Lana” Pumps in Lemon Leather, $679
Bionda Castana “Lana” Pumps in Red Leather, $679
Credit: Brian To / WENN / Sheri Determan / Nicky Nelson / Adriana M. Barraza / Reggie Collier / Instar