Gossip Guru Baird Jones Reported DeadAccording to Ben Widdicombe, the New York gossip world has lost one of its enduring fixtures. Baird Jones, the “Webster Hall curator” who supplied items to “Page Six,” “Rush & Molloy,” Gatecrasher, and Cindy Adams, was found dead in his apartment yesterday, a friend says. The death isn’t yet confirmed by authorities (we are waiting to hear back from the NYPD, who told us they are looking into it), but Widdicombe’s source is a close friend of the reporter. If it’s true, we are saddened by the news. We knew Baird from the party circuit and he was an odd duck, but always very friendly and helpful. He had an uncanny knack for getting celebrities to tell funny stories, and an incredible memory for odd details. He also used to sneak us beers if the party we were at only served froufrou cocktails. We’ll let you know if the NYPD will confirm the report. We, and surely Cindy, Ben, Richard, Paula, George and Joanna, are hoping that they won’t.
‘Baird Jones Has Passed Away’ [Ben Widdicombe’s Oscar blog, via Gawker]
Update: The NYPD confirms that Jones was found dead in his East Village apartment last night around 10:30. They were unable to determine the cause of death, but they detect “no criminality at this time.” His family has been notified, and the investigation is ongoing.
