WWE icon, 76, flooded with support from fans after revealing cancer update
WWE legend Ric Flair has informed fans that he must scrap a scheduled meet and greet due to 'health issues'.
The 76-year-old retired wrestler was inundated with supportive messages after sharing the update, having announced earlier this month that he had skin cancer.
Flair, whose real name is Richard Morgan Fliehr, said at the time that this is his second skin cancer diagnosis in three years.
He started undergoing treatment last week.
Now, the Memphis-born star has explained that his poor health means he cannot meet his supporters as planned tomorrow.
He was due to host the meet-and-greet event at a Mississippi wellness clinic. https://www.instagram.com/p/DK9mjPtuLDf/
Taking to Instagram, where he boasts 2.5million followers, he wrote: 'To All My Dear Friends And Fans- I Am So Sorry, That I Will Not Be Able To See You Tuesday. I Have Health Issues, That I Need To Attend To. As I Have Procrastinated Putting My Health First In The Past. Melanoma, I Have Found Out, Is Nothing To Play With. I Promise To See You ASAP. Please Continue To Love Ric Flair Drip, As @ricflairdrip Loves You [sic]'.
The WWE Hall of Famer soon had his fans wishing him well in the comments, assuring him that they understand his 'health comes first'.
'God bless you Ric. We love you. ❤️', commented @elainahubble.
@chrisbeepz added: 'take it easy legend 🙏🏽'.
'We love you Ric health comes first ❤️', wrote @mayne_dan.
The 16-time WWE champ initially denied his cancer diagnosis on X in a bid to keep it private.
However, once he felt ready, he confirmed it to People.
'It's the second time in three years that I've been dealing with skin cancer,' he told the outlet. 'I will be undergoing treatment next week.'
He also thanked people for their well wishes, adding: 'Appreciate the concerns!'
Flair's health woes have been well documented in recent years.
In August 2017, he was hospitalised with stomach pains. A few hours later, he was in the early stages of kidney failure.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest pro wrestlers of all time, Flair was also close to congestive heart failure.
His loved ones were prepared for the worst, as doctors informed them he only had a 20% likelihood of survival, having put him into a medically induced coma, where he remained for 11 days.
Flair had a pacemaker fitted and part of his bowel removed.
Speaking to People a month after the ordeal, he admitted just how bad it got.
'I crashed in an aeroplane and broke my back; I've been hit by lightning, but this is totally different,' he confessed. 'Anything I've been through before is nothing like this.'
Throughout it all was his partner, Wendy Barlow. They were together for 13 years before parting ways in September 2024.
However, Flair still cherishes how she cared for him, writing in a social media statement at the time their split became public: 'I'll Never Ever Be Able To Thank Her Enough For Standing By My Side Through My Terrible Health Crisis In 2017.'
'She Never Left My Side! And For That I Will Always Be Grateful! [sic]', he added.
Alas, his battles continued in 2019 when Flair was rushed to the Atlanta hospital emergency room after suffering a 'very serious' medical emergency. He went on to have heart surgery once again.
Flair's heart problems can be attributed to alcohol abuse, which he discussed in his book, Ric Flair: To Be the Man.
He shared that he suffered from alcoholic cardiomyopathy, which is a cardiac disease caused by chronic alcohol consumption
'I had one vice,' Flair told Sports Illustrated in 2017. 'I'm not going to point my finger at anybody else. My vice was drinking.
'I didn't have any pain issues, addiction problems, marijuana, cocaine, nothing like that. It's a fact that I kept myself up all night and always had a good time.' More Trending
Flair's wrestling career spanned 50 years before he retired in 2022.
The 'Nature Boy' won numerous titles and was named Wrestler of the Year on several occasions.
In his 2022 Peacock documentary Woooooo! Becoming Ric Flair, then-wife Barlow said that Flair seemed to rely on his WWE persona to help him through tough times.
'I don't know how he survived,' she said. 'What he did was go back into Ric Flair, to be a character so he didn't have to feel.'
If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, Macmillan can offer support and information.
You can contact their helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week from 8am to 8pm), use their webchat service, or visit their site for more information.
View More »
MORE: The backlash against 'tradwife' influencer Nara Smith explained
MORE: Mariah Carey explains why she doesn't believe in the concept of time
MORE: Katy Perry's engagement ring missing with Orlando Bloom split rumours mounting
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
17 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Emotional Charlotte Dawson reveals she's ‘been crying constantly' after being cruelly mum shamed by vile trolls
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHARLOTTE Dawson has admitted she's been left in tears after strings of cruel comments on Instagram. The mum-of-three, who gave birth to her baby girl Gigi in March, spoke with pal Janine Marsh on her Naughty Corner podcast about the toll cruel trolls are taking on her. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 6 Charlotte admitted she found it tough tackling the hateful comments Credit: Getty 6 Charlotte welcomed baby girl Gigi in March Credit: Instagram 6 The star has been giving her comedic take on pregnancy and motherhood on her Instagram Credit: Instagram Getting emotional as she spoke, Charlotte said: "I'm really low at the moment. I'm really up and down. I've been crying, I'm constantly upset and feeling like… thinking about things, worrying. "I'm trying to be positive, but... I've really been struggling, the last few weeks and days and stuff. "Like, the things that they're saying to me, Janine, it's just awful, and I don't want to give them what they want. "I'm trying to make a difference. I need to try and get hold of someone on Instagram, but they're not... I mean, they're not going to listen to me." "Be kind. How is it so hard to be kind?" she pleaded. "I don't understand." Janine said that she was dying to give her friend "a big cuddle" and told her: "I'm telling you as a friend that you are funny, you're fantastic, you're a great mum, you're also a really good representational person for all those women who've had kids. "So don't let them because get you down. When you're having that just remember, there's a lot of people that love you, and I'm one of them." Charlotte, the daughter of legendary stand-up comedian Les Dawson, has tracked the ups and downs of her pregnancy and birth. She posted a video of the moment on Instagram across the weekend, and added in the caption: "This post partum life is so hard so tough.. and should be spoke about enough. And especially the trolls mum police who try & wear you down. "It doesn't harm you to be kind, even if you don't want to be nice just keep it to yourself because you don't know that person is actually feeling…" Charlotte Dawson gives birth to baby girl as she welcomes third child with Matthew Sarsfield Supporters were quick to flood her comments with support, with one telling her: "You are beautiful inside and out and a fantastic mum never forget that you have always been true with yourself and what you post keep being you " Another praised her openly honest posts and added: "you make so many of us SMILE. Such a beautiful soul within in an era of picture perfect grams, you bring the reality" While a third wrote: "Your post and videos are so relatable, your showing 'real life' things. Body image, family issues, things that we all go through and it can feel so lonely sometimes. "You make us laugh, make us cry with you but you make this beautiful connection with your audience just by being yourself that's what makes you so authentic!" 6 Charlotte has shared the ups and downs of her life on social media Credit: Instagram 6 Charlotte is the proud mum to two boys and a girl Credit: Instagram
Scottish Sun
17 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Towie feud explodes as former best mates fall out and have tense row in Portugal
The close friends weren't speaking and even unfollowed each other on Instagram feisty bust up Towie feud explodes as former best mates fall out and have tense row in Portugal Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Only Way is Essex best pals Freddie Bentley and Ella Rae Wise had a dramatic falling out while filming in Portugal. The explosive row led the pair to unfollow each other on Instagram - leading friends to fear their friendship was over for good. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 Freddie Bentley, Dani Imbert and Ella Rae Wise Credit: Getty 3 Freddie fell out with his best pal Credit: Getty 3 Ella Rae Wise has now reconnected with Freddie Credit: Getty Freddie and Ella weren't on speaking terms before finally calling a truce over the sorry affair. They have kept quiet about the reason behind the mysterious fallout, but the scenes are set to play out on screen. Insiders say it was tense situation, but getting their issues all out on the table really helped and they have made up. A source said: 'Ella and Freddie are normally thick as thieves so everyone was really shocked to learn that they had had a bust up. "The exact reason behind their fallout was something of a mystery but at one point, they weren't communicating with each other at all. "Luckily, they managed to clear the air with the cameras rolling and their relationship is back on track. "Bosses were happy it all unfolded on camera, as it will make for loads of drama when the show returns.' Fans were delighted when they spotted Freddie and Ella had refollowed each other on Instagram and started leaving comments under their snaps. They were then pictured enjoying a seafood dinner along with their fellow Towie pal, Dani Imbert. The Sun has contacted a rep for Towie as well as Ella and Freddie for comment.
Time Out
an hour ago
- Time Out
'Aunties,' a powerful new sculpture collection, pays tribute to the women of Harlem
Three colorful figures are now brightening up the intersection of 124th Street and Lenox Avenue in Harlem: Called "Aunties," these figurative sculptures by local artist Fitgi Saint-Louis honor the women who passionately nurture and embolden the Harlem community. As the artist puts it, "Aunties is an ode to the collective of women, builders, leaders, caretakers, changemakers and creatives who transform Harlem and beyond all while having impeccable style." You can visit the artwork through April 2026. To create the larger-than-life figures, Saint-Louis used layers of wood, then painted the wood with bold yellow, red and green hues. The works are meant to be monumental in scale—like the icons of the community—and they're intended to remind passersby of heritage craft traditions and connection to land. "Aunties is intentionally positioned with open space between figures to invite people to stand with them," the NYC Department of Transportation explained in a press release. "The installation recognizes the continued contributions of aunties to the collective fabric in the past, present and future." View this post on Instagram A post shared by NYC DOT Art (@nyc_dotart) The project was commissioned by the NYC DOT as part of the Community Commissions initiative. Under this project, the DOT works with local organizations to design temporary, site-specific artwork. In addition to "Aunties" in Manhattan, the program also commissioned projects in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. Each installation "uses our streets as canvasses to encapsulate New York City and the resilience of its residents," NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez explained in a press release. Here's more about those projects across the five boroughs. Aunties is intentionally positioned with open space between figures to invite people to stand with them. For the Harlem artwork, the DOT collaborated with the West Harlem Art Fund. "Our mission is to bring exceptional public art to Harlem and the surrounding areas of NYC. By introducing modern art into urban environments, we aim to bring new perspectives and voices to a wide range of communities," Savona Baily-McClain, executive director of the West Harlem Art Fund, said in a statement. "Additionally, we include narratives from many diasporas around the world." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fitgi Saint-Louis (@fitgisaintlouis) Along with her sculpture work, Saint-Louis utilizes paint and textiles in her pieces. Her art explores the layered and intertwined nature of identity, remembrance and community within African, American and Caribbean cultures. "Aunties" is already drawing a positive reaction, with comments on social media including, "They immediately caught my eye when I was walking from the train station yesterday" and "When we say art to represent the community, this is what we are talking about." "I'm in awe and taking in this monumental moment. From the page to canvas and now the street, it's here after months of hard work for all to experience. We did it y'all," Saint-Louis said in an Instagram post announcing the artwork's completion. "I'm looking forward to seeing you all with your aunties at the sculpture."
