‘The Bachelorette’s Josh Seiter Alive After Hacked Instagram Hoax [Updated]

This article has been updated to reflect that Josh Seiter is alive.

Less than a day after Josh Seiter‘s death was announced on his Instagram, the former Bachelorette contestant is assuring his followers that he’s “alive and well.” Like rapper Lil Tay, whose social media page wrongfully announced her death earlier this month, his account was merely hacked.

“Hey, guys. As you can see, I am alive and well. My account was hacked,” he said in an Instagram video on Tuesday. “For the last 24 hours, I’ve been trying desperately to get into it. Somebody was playing a cruel joke and mocking my mental illness and the struggles I’ve gone through with depression and suicide attempts.”

He continued, “I’m sorry for all the pain they caused when they made that post. I just got back into my account. I am going to do all I can with my team to try to identify who was behind this but again, I apologize for the confusion. And I will update you guys as more facts come in. Thank you, guys.”

While we now know it was a hacker, the model’s “family” seemingly confirmed the news of his death on his Instagram page on Monday night (Aug. 28).

“It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share the tragic news of Joshua’s unexpected passing,” they wrote in the post. “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.”

They continued, “Although our heartache at Joshua’s passing pains us beyond measure, we find comfort 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.”

While a cause of death was not announced, his “family” provided the phone number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for anybody “experiencing a mental health crisis.” The statement came just days after Seiter’s most recent Instagram post, which read, “Surviving depression and anxiety one day at a time with a smile.”

Seiter is best known for his short run on The Bachelorette Season 11 when he appeared as one of the many contestants vying for Kaitlyn Bristowe‘s heart back in 2015. However, he was eliminated during the first week.

Earlier this year, Seiter — who works as a model and adult film actor — came out as bisexual and announced his engagement to a male exotic dancer. While he has since ended his engagement, he continued to perform alongside his former fiancé in an exotic male dancing troupe in the Midwest, according to Out Magazine.

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A post shared by Josh Seiter (@josh_seiter_official)

The former reality star — who is just over three years sober — is also open about his mental health on his social media page. In July 2021, he revealed that he previously attempted suicide and that he struggled with obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder and general anxiety disorder.

Last month, Seiter went further into detail about his mental health journey over the last 15 years.

“When I was 21 I was completely catatonic and committed to a psychiatric ward. When I was 22 I tried taking my own life. At 23 I underwent electroshock therapy,” he wrote. “Later that year I harnessed every bit of strength I had and applied to law school. At 25 I graduated law school top of my class. By 30 I became one of the most followed mental health advocates online and one of the top creators on [Only Fans].”

He added, “At almost 36, life is pretty dang near perfect. Never, ever give up. Your story isn’t written yet. Every chapter is leading to a more perfect ending. I promise.”

If you or someone you know are experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 988.