Josh Seiter Not Dead: Former ‘Bachelorette’ Contestant Says His Instagram Account Was Hacked With Fake Death Statement — Update

UPDATED, 10:59 AM: Former The Bachelorette contestant Josh Seiter says reports of his death are not true and he is “alive and well”. In a video, Seiter claims his verified Instagram account was hacked and he was unable to access it for 24 hours. He says whoever hacked the account was playing a “cruel joke” and mocking his previous struggles with mental illness. “I’m sorry for all the pain they caused,” he said, adding that he and his team are working to determine who posted the fake statement.

The previous statement, supposedly written on behalf of his family which has since been deleted, read: “It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share the tragic news of Joshua’s unexpected passing. 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 just a little less alone.”

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Watch Seiter’s video here:

PREVIOUS, Aug. 28, 6:47 PM: Josh Seiter, a former contestant on The Bachelorette, has died. He was 36.

Seiter was featured in Season 11, which aired in 2015, of the ABC dating show which had Kaitlyn Bristowe searching for love. The Chicago resident, exotic dancer and law student was eliminated on the first week of the show.

“It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share the tragic news of Joshua’s unexpected passing,” Seiter’s family said in a statement shared on his verified Instagram account. “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 just a little less alone.”

The statement continued, “Although our heartache at Joshua’s passing pains us beyond measure, we find comfort in knowing that he is finally at peace. We hope and pray that his spirit can continue to live on in the pictures and words on this page, which we will leave up for the time being. While we do that, we would kindly ask for privacy as we grieve.”

The cause of death was not revealed but the statement ended with a message “for anybody who is experiencing mental health crisis” with a phone line to reach for help.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwgStS9xBIN/

In the past, Seiter was open about mental health struggles recalling when he was 21 “depression and anxiety felt overwhelming.”

“The intrusive thoughts from my OCD built up over time and eventually caused me to go into a dissociative state of endless depression and anxiety leading to derealization and a psychotic break,” he shared on an Instagram post back in 2021. “I attempted suicide, was hospitalized, underwent electroshock therapy, and was re-hospitalized.”

Seiter said he had “spent the last 11 years in therapy” and encouraged other people to seek help as “you aren’t alone” and “there is hope and there are resources, and it does get better.”

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