The reality world has lost one of its own.
Rob “Rabbit” Pitts, the star of Netflix’s automobile renovation reality series “Tex Mex Motors,” died at age 45.
Pitts passed away after battling stomach cancer.
On Sunday, the late reality star shared his story with fans in a final video titled “This Is Goodbye (RIP 7/27/79 – 8/25/24)”on YouTube.
His videographer, Jeff, confirmed the news of his death in the comments section, revealing that Pitts had been privately living with stomach cancer and has since passed away.
He wrote, “Hey everyone, this is Jeff (Rob’s Videographer). I am with him now in Hospice. He just passed at 21:45 on 08/25/2024. I will be sure to preserve the channel. He will be missed and we will never forget him!️”
Pitts’ four-minute video began with the host addressing followers who have been “wondering what I’ve been up to.”
He went on to detail his journey since learning he had cancer.
“I started feeling ‘off’ after SEMA [a Las Vegas car show] last year and I was losing weight,” Pitts explained in the text-based footage. “But I was getting ready to film season 2 of ‘TexMex Motors’ for Netflix and wanted to be camera ready, so I didn’t mind that so much.”
The automobile expert recalled times he would “lose my appetite” and had “more and more acid reflux-like symptoms.”
At the urging of his “castmate and set mom,” Pitts sought treatment at the emergency room. It was “then at the end of March that I was diagnosed with stomach cancer.”
“Since then I have been getting treatments at home and it’s been rough. More bad days than good, but hanging in there. I have a lot to live for and life has been going my way,” Pitts continued. “Don’t be sad for me… I accomplished my dream of buying my own store, finishing season 2 of Netflix and marrying the love of my life.”
Pitt teased fans that his wife “doesn’t mind doing long-term things with a short-term guy” before urging viewers to “ask questions and get answers” if “your body is telling you something is wrong.”
“Thank you for listening to my stories over the years,” he concluded. “If my stories have impacted you, I would love to hear about it. Until next time, — Rabbit.”
Pitts and his co-creator Marcos “Scooter” Carrera first debuted their show on the streaming platform in June 2023. “Tex Mex Motors” followed the duo as they looked for vintage cars in Mexico to transport back to their shop in El Paso, Texas.
Once back at Tex Mex Motors, Pitts and Carrera worked on the cars, resulting in incredible transformations and restorations.
As Pitts mentioned in his final video, Season 2 of the show went into production earlier this year.
Carrera reacted to the news on Instagram Sunday: “It’s with a heavy heart that I write about the passing of my cast member & friend ROB ‘RABBIT’ PITTS. Rest In Peace Brother, I’m going to really miss you!!!”
In a follow-up post, the Netflix star shared, “THANK YOU RABBIT FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP/CAR ADVICE/FRIENDSHIP/SARCASM/JOKES. REST IN PEACE MY FRIEND!! TILL WE MEET AGAIN!! THIS IS NOT GOOD BYE BUT SEE YOU LATER!!! I AM GOING TO MISS YOU, THOUGH!!”
Pitts is survived by his wife, Randi Foraker, and his mother, Kim Pitts. His family shared that they have received a massive amount of support from fans in the wake of his death.
“Since Robby’s passing, the outpouring of support for the family has been incredible,” they shared in a statement to TMZ. “We are not surprised that his stories touched so many – we had no idea of the depth of each connection he made. We wish to thank his friends and fans for keeping these memories alive and showing the impact of the work he did that always came from his heart.”
