Breaking: ‘Supersize Me’ Filmmaker Dead at Age 53

The controversial filmmaker best known for his 2004 documentary “Supersize Me” has reportedly died.

According to a family statement, the 53-year-old had been battling cancer.

The New York Post had some details:

He died Thursday night from complications of cancer, The Post can confirm.

“It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” his brother Craig Spurlock to the outlet. “Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas and generosity. Today the world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked together with him.”

Born in 1970 in Parkersburg, West Virginia, Spurlock graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in 1993.

He got his start in the entertainment industry as a playwright, winning awards for his 1999 play “The Phoenix” at the New York Fringe Festival.

Before rising to fame, he also created and hosted the gonzo web series “Bet You Will,” which paid contestants to do outrageous tasks for money, such as eating a full jar of mayonnaise. The show aired on both MTV and the now-defunct Spike.

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Tributes soon began pouring in on social media:

JUST IN: 'Super Size Me' filmmaker Morgan Spurlock has died at the age of 53 from complications of cancer.

Spurlock released a documentary in 2004 where he ate McDonalds every day for 30 days.

At the end of the experiment, Spurlock's cholesterol shot up 65 points and he gained… pic.twitter.com/Rv8ZqypMDV

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 24, 2024

Morgan Spurlock achieved what most artists only dream: he actually changed the world with his art. He was an amazing father, brother, friend and one of the most important and influential filmmakers of my time. My heart breaks for his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/1s4EF321Lx

— Brett Morgen (@brettmorgen) May 24, 2024

🚨 THE AMERICAN DIET IS LITERALLY DESIGNED TO KILL YOU 🚨

RIP Morgan Spurlock ⚠️ He was only 53 and just died from cancer ‼️

Morgan made multiple ‘Super Size Me’ documentaries where he put his own body on the line by eating large amounts of fast food to test its effects‼️ pic.twitter.com/wNWVa6I6tr

— Matt Wallace (@MattWallace888) May 24, 2024

In 2019, Spurlock followed up his hit documentary with a sequel focusing on fast-food chicken.

As Today reported at the time:

In the movie, Spurlock takes a closer look at how fast food is made by participating in the process from start to finish. First, he sets up his own chicken farm to raise the chicks which will eventually supply the poultry meat used at his very own Chick-fil-A-style restaurant he calls Holy Chicken. TODAY Food spoke to Spurlock about his experience both as a chicken farmer and budding fast-food restaurateur and he revealed a few controversial ideas he wants all consumers to know before they order their next chicken sandwich.

The release of “Super Size Me 2” probably couldn’t come at a more relevant time. In August, Popeyes released its first fried chicken sandwich, sparking a very heated Twitter debate among several big chains. Photos showing Popeyes customers lined up like it was Black Friday quickly went viral. Spurlock told TODAY he simply credits serendipity for the fact that his follow-up to the 2004 film is being released on the heels of so many headlines about fried chicken.

“I don’t think it’s wholly a coincidence that this is happening at the same time,” Spurlock told TODAY. “I think there are going to be a lot of things pushed to the forefront in terms of ‘big chicken’ wanting to announce things that they’re going to do to change their chicken practices right around the time the movie comes out.”

While his film attracted a lot of attention and gained notable accolades, many critics accused him of manipulating the results of his experience.