(ABC)
Michael Nance, who was on Emily Maynard’s season of The Bachelorette, has died. According to TMZ, a cause of death has not yet been revealed, but police say that the death was not suspicious. He was 31 years old.
Police in Austin were called to a home where they found an unresponsive male around 2:10 a.m. The man was identified as Nance. He was pronounced dead about 45 minutes later.
“At this point it is not a suspicious death and the manner will be determined by the medical examiner,” a spokesperson for the Austin Police Department Homicide Unit in Texas told Us Weekly.
Here is what you need to know:
1. Maynard Sent Nance Home Mid-Season
Nance vied for Maynard’s heart back in 2012. Although the two seemed to have a bit of a connection early on, Maynard sent Nance home in the middle of the season.
As part of his introduction package on The Bachelorette, the then-26-year-old Nance revealed that he had struggled with an addiction to prescription pills, but said that he was almost two years sober at the time of filming.
“Right now, life is good, but I haven’t put as much focus on my love life because the way I was a couple years ago, no one would have wanted to be around me. I was addicted to prescription pain medicine. It all starts out fun and then somewhere along the road, it just turned into something else. It’s a vicious cycle and it ate away at me for a long time. I’m almost two years sober, now, and it’s not that easy — you have to completely change your way of living. But my life is really, really good today. … I’m happy and I’m content, but there are things missing in my life. I would like to fund my soulmate,” he said, according to People Magazine.
Maynard sent out a tweet about Nance on Tuesday morning.
So sad waking up to the news about Michael Nance. Such a kind heart with so much talent. Sending prayers and love to his family and friends.
2. Other ‘Bachelorette’ Suitors Have Tweeted About Nance’s Death
Nance was one of the “good guys” on the popular reality dating show. He was very likable and he made a lot of friends. Some of the other guys from Maynard’s season have taken to social media to share their heartfelt messages about Nance’s passing, many of them referring to him as a “friend.”
Fellow Maynard suitor Chris Bukowski tweeted about the news shortly after it was released.
Extremely difficult learning the news of Michael Nance’s passing. He was a gentle man with a huge heart. He’ll be missed but not forgotten.
Bachelor Sean Lowe also got to know Nance on The Bachelorette and sent out the following tweet.
My heart breaks to hear about the passing of my friend Michael Nance. He was a sweet man with a kind soul. We all loved him on Bachelorette.
Maynard’s “runner-up” Arie Luyendyk Jr. posted the following message after hearing of Nance’s passing.
I will always remember my friend Micheal Nance for his kind and fragile soul. Addiction is a terrible disease, may he finally find peace.
The video below is a compilation of Nance’s time on The Bachelorette.
3. Nance Was a Musician
Currently, Nance has 17 songs available for purchase and download on iTunes.
After his time on The Bachelorette, Nance released a music video for his song, The Heezy. You can check out the video below.
4. Aseel Danan Is Believed to Have Been Nance’s Girlfriend & She Posted on Instagram After His Passing
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUr0_YuA8Qv/?taken-by=aseeldanan
According to Perez Hilton, Aseel Danan was Nance’s “most recent” girlfriend. Last year, Nance posted a sweet message to her on Instagram.
“Against all odds, 1 year ago tonight I met the most beautiful, loving, amazing person I’d ever met. The universe somehow arranged for us to meet from worlds away and it’s been the best year of my life. Thank you for making California feel like home, brining me in to your ‘Newport family,’ supporting me through the up and downs of life, and showing me that love conquers all. Aseel – I love and will always love you very much,” he wrote.
5. He Cut His Hair 3 Years Ago
If Nance doesn’t look familiar to you in recent photos, it may be because he had long hair when he was on The Bachelorette. Two years after being sent home by Maynard, Nance decided it was time for a change. He posted a photo of his long brunette locks on the ground and used the hashtag “#Hodged.”