Former Menudo Band Member Anthony Galindo Ibarra Dies by Suicide at 41
Editor's Note
If you experience suicidal thoughts or have lost someone to suicide, the following post could be potentially triggering. You can contact the Crisis Text Line by texting “START” to 741741.
Venezuelan singer Anthony Galindo Ibarra has died by suicide at the age of 41, according to a statement released by his family. His family previously said Ibarra was in critical condition following a Sept. 27 suicide attempt. On Saturday, his family shared on Instagram Ibarra had died after “the doctors did what was humanly possible to save his life.”
“We thank you for all the prayers and support in these difficult times for our family and for so many people who had the opportunity to meet him personally and as an artist,” the statement added.
Ibarra, also known by his stage name El Papi Joe, was a member of the hit Puerto Rican group Menudo. Formed in 1977, Ibarra joined the band in 1979 and performed with Menudo until he aged out of the boy band. Other notable Menudo alums include Ricky Martin and Draco Rosa. Ibarra later joined the pop band MDO and also worked as a model.
If this news is hard for you, know you are not alone — and there is help for people who feel suicidal. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text “START” to 741-741. Head here for a list of crisis centers around the world.
Header image via Anthony Galindo Ibarra/Instagram
Renée Fabian was the features editor at The Mighty. She has also written for The Washington Post, VICE, Healthline, Talkspace, The Fix, The Establishment, The Culture Trip, and GRAMMY.com, among others. Renée was named a 2019 AHCJ Comparative Effectiveness Research fellow, a 2020 USC Center for Health Journalism California fellow, and holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of Southern California and a master's degree in psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles. You can follow her on Twitter @ryfabian.
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