'Bachelorette' contestant Josh Seiter, widely reported dead, shares Instagram video confirming he's alive
"Bachelorette" contestant Josh Seiter posted an Instagram on Tuesday to let his followers know he is alive.
On Monday, multiple media outlets reported that Seiter had died by suicide.
Seiter said in his video that his Instagram account had been hacked.
"Bachelorette" contestant Josh Seiter, who vied for Kaitlyn Bristowe's heart on season 11, shared an Instagram video on Tuesday confirming he's alive after widely being reported dead.
"Hey guys, as you can see I am alive and well," Seiter's video began. He went on to explain that somebody played a "cruel joke" on him and hacked into his account and was "mocking my mental health and the struggles I've gone through with depression and suicide attempts."
The 36-year-old went on to apologize to his followers for the "pain" his hacker caused when they made the post announcing his death by suicide, which was widely reported by outlets like People on Monday.
On Monday, a since-deleted post on his Instagram account read:
"It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share the tragic news of Joshua's unexpected passing," per Fox News. "As all who knew him can attest, Joshua was an incredibly bright light in an increasingly dim world."
"Although our heartache at Joshua's passing pains us beyond measure, we find comfort in knowing that he is finally at peace," the post reportedly concluded. It also reportedly contained resources for people experiencing depression and thoughts of suicide.
Seiter did not immediately responded to Insider's request for comment.
The 36-year-old was eliminated during the first week of competition on Bristowe's season, which aired in 2015.
Days before the reported hacking, he posted a selfie to Instagram with the caption, "Surviving depression and anxiety one day at a time with a smile."
Seiter lists himself as an Instagram "Mental Health Advocate," per his LinkedIn. In 2021, he posted about attempting suicide at the age of 21 due to intrusive thoughts caused by obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, and depression.
"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," he wrote at the time.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
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