Josh Seiter, a contestant on Kaitlyn Bristowe’s season of “The Bachelorette,” has died just days after sharing his depression and anxiety struggles on social media. He was 36.
“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,” Seiter’s family wrote in a statement posted to his Instagram page Monday.
“His fearless voice and indomitable spirit helped thousands of people in their darkest moments feel just a little less alone. Although our heartache at Joshua’s passing pains us beyond measure, we find comfort in knowing that he is finally at peace.”
A cause of death was not revealed, but his family included the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in their statement.
The Post has contacted reps for ABC’s “The Bachelorette” and Bristowe, 38, for comment.
Seiter, a 2013 graduate of the Chicago-Kent College of Law, openly discussed his mental health struggles.
“Surviving depression and anxiety one day at a time with a smile,” he captioned a selfie on Thursday.
“I’m Josh Seiter, and I’m a suicide attempt survivor. I battle OCD, Bipolar Depression, and GAD, but I refuse to give up. What did you survive?” the OnlyFans creator captioned another picture, in 2021.
Seiter was sent home the first night of Bristowe’s “Bachelorette” journey in 2015.
On that season, 25 suitors met Bristowe and Britt Nilsson and voted for the woman they wanted to be the show’s lead.
Seiter, who became an exotic dancer to support himself in law school, greeted the ladies by taking off his shirt and arguing that his ego would be hurt if he didn’t move on to the next round — a first impression he later claimed was “fed” to him by producers.
Bristowe won the election — much to Seiter’s disappointment.
He later told the Chicago Tribune that he didn’t want to be on the show if Bristowe was picked because he wasn’t attracted to her.
He admitted to being on the show not for love — a storyline that plays out almost every season of the franchise — but to promote his career as an exotic dancer.
“It was mostly about kind of, like, exposure and getting my name out there more,” Seiter told the outlet. “That whole finding a wife thing to me was kind of a ludicrous idea.”
Seiter would go on to date women from reality shows such as “90 Day Fiancé” and “Love After Lockup.”
Earlier this year, he came out as pansexual and said he was dating a fellow exotic dancer named David.
If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org
