Josh Seiter (screen capture)Update: Josh Seiter, former Bachelorette contestant, has posted a video to his social media to say he is alive after a message announcing his death had been shared on his Instagram.
In the new post – shared with the comments turned off – he says his account was hacked.
“As you can see, I am alive and well,” says Seiter in the video. “My account was hacked. For the last 24 hours, I have 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, and I’m sorry for all the pain they caused when they made that post.”
The 36-year-old added that he and his “team” are “investigating” the incident and promised further updates in the future. Here’s the now-deleted announcement of his “death:”
Seiter competed on The Bachelorette in 2015, eliminated in the first week. He’s also worked as a stripper and launched an OnlyFans account.
He came out as bisexual in a June interview with my “other home,” Instinct Magazine. He told my editor, Adam Dupuis, that growing up in a “Christian cult” led to him repressing his bisexuality until later in life.
Seiter has shared in the past about having mental health struggles on his Instagram account, saying he has been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder. He also says he attempted suicide at age 22.
Prior to the faux death announcement, he had posted on his Instagram account writing , “Surviving depression and anxiety one day at a time with a smile.”
RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Monica Beverly Hillz, with whom he was once romantically linked, has removed her initial post regarding the news of Seiter’s “death” and now expresses some doubts (along with several others) about his account being “hacked.”
I’m happy to hear he’s alive, but I’m so angry at the situation. It’s infuriating that so many people who care about Josh have been deeply effected by this.
Everyone deserves grace, but unfortunately I can’t help but think that he was able to pull this stunt as a cisgender white man – acting like he was dead – when so many of my sisters and trans women of color have been brutally murdered this year and the same love and support isn’t show to them.
Men who do this shit are usually trying to compensate for some insecurity or darkness inside them. The dolls know all too well that these men are dangerous and I saw the red flags fast a mile away. To keep it frank – ban his instagram account, he needs to get help or lock his ass up.
Let this example speak volumes to the girls who already know – keep those men who seek our fame and attention far way from us. I’ve learned my lesson and now I’m only on to bigger and better things.
I think you can guess my thoughts on this.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.