Former The Bachelorette contestant Josh Seiter has revealed that he is still alive after news broke late on Monday that his family had announced his death.
The original supposed family statement sharing the news of his passing has since been deleted from his Instagram, and instead, the TV personality shared a new video.
"Hey guys, as you can see, I am alive and well. My account was hacked, for the last 24 hours I've been trying desperately to get into it," he said in a video taken from home.
"Somebody was playing a cruel joke and mocking my mental illness and my struggles I'd gone through with depression and suicide attempts. I'm sorry for all the pain they caused when they made that post.
"I just got back into my account. I'm going to try to do all that I can with my team to try to identify who is behind this. But again, I apologize for the confusion and I will update you as more facts come in."
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The 36-year-old reality star's Instagram originally had a statement which read: "It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share the tragic news of Joshua's unexpected passing," seemingly from his family.
© Instagram"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. Although our heartache at Joshua's passing pains us beyond measure, we find comfort knowing that he is finally at peace."
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The budding model's main claim to fame was his appearance on the 11th season of The Bachelorette in 2015, vying for the heart of Kaitlyn Bristowe. He was sent home in the first week, but has since come out as pansexual, even embarking on a relationship with RuPaul's Drag Race contestant Monica Beverly Hillz.
© InstagramJosh has been incredibly candid about his struggles with mental health, detailing bouts of anxiety, depression, and suicidal tendencies.
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His last post prior to the statement was a selfie, alongside which he wrote: "Surviving depression and anxiety one day at a time with a smile."
In a previous statement while opening up about his past suicide attempt, he wrote: "I have spent the last 11 years in therapy, learning how to restructure my thoughts and manage my mental health with CBT. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is constant work and a drag out battle every single day, but it is so worth it.
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"If you are struggling right now with your mental health I want you to know you aren't alone, there is hope and there are resources, and it does get better. Therapy isn't a weakness. It requires an undeniable toughness. And it is so worth it."
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health and suicidal thoughts, check out the mental health hotline
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