Former “The Bachelorette” contestant, Josh Seiter, has tragically passed away at the age of 36, his family announced on Monday. The news of his unexpected death was shared in a heartfelt statement posted on Seiter's Instagram page. Described as an "incredibly bright light in an increasingly dim world," Seiter's fearless voice and indomitable spirit had a profound impact on countless individuals during their darkest moments. The family expressed their hope that his spirit would live on through the pictures and words on his social media page, while also requesting privacy as they grieve.
Seiter rose to fame as a contestant on Kaitlyn Bristowe's season of “The Bachelorette” in 2015, although he was eliminated during the first week. The cause of his death has not been disclosed by his family, but they did include the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in their statement, encouraging anyone experiencing a mental health crisis to seek help. This lifeline provides free and confidential support to individuals in distress and offers prevention and crisis resources.
Just days before his passing, Seiter had shared a photo of himself on Instagram, accompanied by the caption, "Surviving depression and anxiety one day at a time with a smile." His openness about his struggles with mental health resonated with many, making his sudden death all the more heartbreaking.
Seiter's appearance on “The Bachelorette” was not without controversy. As a graduate of the Chicago-Kent College of Law, he made a lasting impression by greeting Bristowe and Nilsson by taking off his shirt and arguing that his ego would be hurt if he didn't move on to the next round. He later admitted that this behavior was influenced by producers. Although Bristowe ultimately won the election to become the show's lead, Seiter expressed his lack of attraction towards her and confessed that his main motive for participating in the show was to promote his career as an exotic dancer.
Following his time on "The Bachelorette," Seiter continued to be involved in reality TV, dating women from shows like "90 Day Fiance" and "Love After Lockup." Earlier this year, he publicly came out as pansexual and revealed that he was in a relationship with fellow exotic dancer David.
The news of Seiter's death serves as a reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and the need for support in times of crisis. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, along with other resources such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-8255) and the crisis text line (text HOME to 741741), offer vital assistance to those in need.
