Reality television star Kirk Medas, known for his time on the MTV series “Floribama Shore,” has died at the age of 33. Medas passed away on Friday after spending nearly two weeks hospitalized in an intensive care unit in Miami, Florida.
According to his father, Medas died from liver failure after battling a severe case of necrotizing pancreatitis. Prior to his death, Medas had been placed in intensive care due to the serious medical condition, which was compounded by sepsis.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Kirk Medas, a beloved member of the Floribama Shore family. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and fans during this difficult time,” an MTV spokesperson said in a statement.
Medas was known to fans of reality television for his appearance on the “Jersey Shore” spin-off, where he starred alongside castmates Jeremiah Buoni, Codi Butts, Aimee Hall, Nilsa Prowant, Candace Rice, Gus Smyrnios and Kortni Gilson. He joined the cast during the show’s first season in 2017 and remained a main cast member throughout its four-season run on MTV before the series was canceled.
Floribama Shore Executive Producer SallyAnn Salsano and production company 495 Productions expressed their grief in a statement to TMZ: “We are heartbroken over the passing of Kirk Medas, a beloved member of our Floribama Shore family. Kirk brought light, laughter, and loyalty to every moment—both on screen and off. He was more than a cast member; he was family.”
According to medical experts, necrotizing pancreatitis occurs when pancreatic inflammation becomes so severe that it causes tissue death. This serious condition can lead to both short-term and long-term complications. Medas had been battling the illness for over two weeks in the hospital before his passing.
In the days before his death, Medas’ former co-stars had taken to social media to ask for support. His castmate Aimee Hall revealed that Medas had been in the ICU for over two weeks battling the severe case of necrotizing pancreatitis. His fellow cast members had also shared a GoFundMe page to help cover his medical expenses, as Medas did not have health insurance.
Following the news of his passing, Hall paid tribute to her friend on social media, describing how she had lost “a brother” and “best friend.” She spoke about how Medas had a kind soul and a heart full of love for everyone he met. Hall called Medas “the glue that held us all together” and said he “loved each and every one of us so deeply, with a heart bigger than this world.”
Nilsa Prowant, another cast member close to Medas, also shared her memories of him following his death. She explained how Medas had been there for her over the past eight years of her life, even walking her mother down the aisle. In her social media tribute, Prowant shared that Medas “was one of my favorite people in the whole world” and that “anytime you needed a friend, Kirk was always there.”
Before his hospitalization, Medas’ last social media post was made on April 15, showing him posing on a balcony overlooking Miami. Beyond his time on “Floribama Shore,” Medas had also appeared alongside some of his co-stars on a special episode of “Fear Factor” in 2018, where they competed against cast members from “Jersey Shore: Family Vacation.” He also made an appearance on an episode of “How Far Is Tattoo Far?”
The production team concluded their statement saying, “Our hearts are with his loved ones, friends, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. We will forever cherish the joy and memories he gave us.”
