Josh Seiter, a former contestant on the popular dating show The Bachelorette, passed away on Monday at the age of 36. His family confirmed his death in a statement posted on his Instagram account, which has over 450,000 followers.
A Bright Light in a Dim World
The statement described Seiter as “an incredibly bright light in an increasingly dim world”. It said that he was a fearless voice and an indomitable spirit who helped thousands of people in their darkest moments feel less alone.
The statement did not reveal the cause of his death, but it included the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for anyone who is experiencing a mental health crisis and needs help. It also asked for privacy as the family grieves.
Seiter was open about his struggles with mental health issues, such as OCD, bipolar depression, and generalized anxiety disorder. He also identified himself as a suicide attempt survivor in a previous Instagram post.
A Diverse and Controversial Career
Seiter was a graduate of the Chicago-Kent College of Law and worked as an attorney before pursuing a career in entertainment. He appeared on the 11th season of The Bachelorette in 2015, where he competed for the love of Kaitlyn Bristowe. He was eliminated on the first night after he took off his shirt and argued that his ego would be hurt if he did not move on to the next round.
He later admitted that he went on the show for fame and exposure, not for finding a wife. He also said that he was not attracted to Bristowe and preferred the other option, Britt Nilsson.
After his stint on The Bachelorette, Seiter became an exotic dancer and an OnlyFans creator. He also dated women from other reality shows, such as 90 Day Fiancé and Love After Lockup.
Earlier this year, Seiter came out as bisexual, after previously identifying as pansexual. He also announced plans to star in a series of adult films, but it is unclear if he ever followed through with them.
Tributes from Fans and Friends
Seiter’s death shocked and saddened many of his fans and friends, who expressed their condolences and memories on social media. Among them was Monica Beverly Hillz, a former contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race and the first queen to come out as trans during the main competition. She recently competed on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 8.
Hillz posted a photo of her and Seiter with the caption “RIP my honey”. She also shared a video of them dancing together on her Instagram story.
Other reality stars who paid tribute to Seiter included Ashley Iaconetti from Bachelor in Paradise, who wrote “I’m so sorry” on his Instagram post, and Yolanda Leak from 90 Day Fiancé, who commented “Rest in peace my friend”.
Seiter’s fans also shared their messages of support and appreciation for him. One fan wrote “You were such an inspiration to me and many others. You will be missed dearly”. Another fan wrote “You were always so kind and generous to your followers. You made us laugh and smile. You were a beautiful soul”.
Seiter is survived by his family, who said that they hope his spirit can continue to live on in his pictures and words.