Former ‘Bachelorette’ Contestant Dead at 36 (Updated)

Update: Seiter has not died, and took to his Instagram account to correct the record. He stated that somebody had hacked his account and he had been unable to access it for the past 24 hours. He stated that whoever did it was mocking his mental health and playing a cruel joke by posting he had died.

A former suitor from “The Bachelorette,” Josh Seiter, has died at age 36, according to his family.

His family announced Seiter’s death in an August 28 post on his Instagram page, writing, “It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share the tragic news of Joshua’s unexpected passing.” Details such as the date, location and cause of death were not mentioned in the post. The message did include information on the 988 SMS Lifeline for anybody navigating a mental health crisis.

Seiter, a contestant on season 11 of the show, had been open about mental health struggles, according to multiple reports. On Thursday, August 24, he posted: “Surviving depression and anxiety one day at a time with a smile.”

The family added, “As all who knew him can attest, Joshua was an incredibly bright light in an increasingly dim world. His fearless voice and indomitable spirit helped thousands of people in their darkest moments feel a little less alone.”

The statement from the family noted they found “comfort in knowing that he is finally at peace.”

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Josh Seiter’s History on ‘The Bachelorette’

Seiter was eliminated during the first week of season 11, which aired in the summer of 2015. He was one of just five contestants in season 11 to have an introductory video shown during the premiere.

At the time of filming, Seiter was 27 and had just finished law school. Based in Chicago, Seiter explained he had focused on criminal defense work and was studying for the bar exam.

As he waited to pass the bar exam, Seiter shared he had found “the best job on Earth” to keep his bills paid. He worked as an exotic male dancer, saying what he did provided “one of the best feelings I’ve ever felt before.”

Seiter’s arrival on “The Bachelorette” included a racy introduction, but he never received a rose. He was one of the first six men eliminated during his season.

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Josh Seiter Struggled With His Mental Health

Seiter never appeared on “Bachelor in Paradise” or stayed particularly prominent in Bachelor Nation after his “Bachelorette” elimination. He did, however, remain connected to reality television to a degree, dating several contestants from other shows.

As Yahoo! Entertainment detailed, Seiter dated “90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days” star Yolanda Leak for some time, as well as Karine Staehle from the “90 Day” franchise. There were romances with “Love After Lockup” stars Lizzie Kommes and Glorietta Besos, and he even reached out to “Sister Wives” star Christine Brown after her split from Kody Brown.

Out noted that Seiter had come out as pansexual, and later shared he considered himself bisexual instead. While the former “Bachelorette” star received a fair amount of attention for his dating life, he also was open about his mental health struggles.

In July 2021, Seiter posted a photo on his Instagram page and revealed, “I’m a suicide attempt survivor. I battle OCD, Bipolar Depression, and GAD, but I refuse to give up.” On August 24, he posted a selfie on Instagram showing him smiling. His caption read, “Surviving depression and anxiety one day at a time with a smile.”

In January 2022, another suitor from season 11 died after struggling with mental health issues. People shared that Clint Arlis died by suicide at his parents’ home, where he had recently been living.

Bachelor Nation fans discussed Seiter’s passing on “The Bachelor” subreddit, and quite a few mentioned Arlis’ passing as well.

“The people coming on the show are human and go through human experiences. We have watched mental health has continued to be a struggle for contestants. He is not the first they have lost to suicide,” one Redditor noted.

“Depression is a beast, as is anxiety. Condolences to his loved ones,” added another.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, dial 988 to reach the toll-free Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week (dial 888-628-9454 for assistance in Spanish). You can also speak with a trained crisis counselor anytime by texting HOME to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.

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