Talk show host Jerry Springer has died at the age of 79.
On Thursday, Springer’s publicist, Linda Shafran, confirmed the news of his death to Fox News Digital.
Jene Galvin, a lifelong friend and spokesperson for the family, gave a statement to WLWT5.
“Jerry’s ability to connect with people was at the heart of his success in everything he tried whether that was politics, broadcasting or just joking with people on the street who wanted a photo or a word. He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on,” Galvin said.
TMZ reported the former mayor of Cincinnati “died peacefully” at his home in Chicago Thursday morning.
Other sources revealed that his cause of death was pancreatic cancer, a diagnosis he received a few months ago.
In 2022, Springer appeared on the podcast Behind the Velvet Rope and got candid about his controversial talk show.
“Our show was reality because whatever you saw was their real life. They just happened to come into a TV studio and talk about it,” he told host David Yontef. “But the situation wasn’t created for television, it was what was happening.”
Springer added the reality shows seen today aren’t really reality, compared to what his show was, and are just “unscripted.”
Despite hosting “The Jerry Springer Show,” Springer admitted that he wasn’t “a normal TV watcher.”
Springer also spoke about cancel culture and the reality of being a public figure.
“Look, when you put yourself out there, when you decide to go into entertainment when you decide to speak a particular point of view or perform, you are basically saying to the public either ‘watch me’, ‘listen to me,’ ‘what do you think?'” he said.
Continuing, he said, “No one ever says, ‘do not applaud’ ‘do not say you like what I do’. So if you are inviting a public reaction, sometimes the reaction’s not going to be good, then the choice is don’t become a performer.”