Daniel Curtis Lee, best known for his role as Cookie on Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide, opened up about his concern for former costar Tylor Chase after a holiday effort to get him off the streets and into a hotel didn’t go as planned.
“Happy Holidays,” Lee, 34, captioned a TikTok video on December 25. “Difficult conversation about Tylor Chase and his recovery journey.”
In the three-minute clip, Lee explained that after helping Chase find temporary accommodations, he received a call from management that left him feeling “devastated.”
“Just that night, I receive a call from management, they’re upset,” Lee said. “The door’s left open. Why is there a microwave in the tub? … I just feel so devastated. I am at a loss.”
He also noted that Chase’s family had tried similar interventions before, without success. “His family told me that they had tried the hotel thing before and it didn’t work,” Lee explained.
@danielcurtislee Happy Holidays. Difficult conversation about Tylor Chase and his recovery journey. #tylorchase #danielcurtislee #nedsdeclassified #shelter #epidemic
Lee appeared frustrated with the limitations of the system and his inability to “fix the situation” himself.
“Help should be provided for these people facing mental health issues, drug abuse issues,” he said. “A third party should be able to get someone into treatment, get them a psychological evaluation to figure out what is going on and allow them to detox.”
He admitted feeling “crushed” by how ineffective the process has been. “There’s no reason why his family should not be able to get him help. I’m really feeling devastated here,” Lee said. He did, however, thank the people who had supported him along the way.
Lee also considered taking further action to ensure Chase’s safety, asking fans for input on whether a “5150” — an involuntary psychiatric hold — would be appropriate. “I think that it is time to put in a call for a 5150 but I also need insight from you all. Do you think that’s fair to have a third party call and get someone entry into a facility when you know they need the treatment and they’re gravely mentally disabled?”
Earlier this month, videos of Chase experiencing homelessness in Riverside, California, circulated online, prompting Lee to intervene. On December 24, Lee shared an Instagram video showing him getting Chase food, checking him into a hotel, and even FaceTiming former costar Devon Werkheiser (who played Ned).
“I just wanted him to have, at least, some basic accommodations,” Lee said. “He wanted to stay local and this was the only one that was open and accepting people, so here we are, man.”
Lee promised to continue checking in, offering encouragement to his friend. “You’re the man, brother. I believe in you and we’re going to win, bro. All we gotta do is stay with it and keep working, dude,” he said.
