Former “Bachelorette” alum Josh Seiter spoke out after he had reportedly died.
On Aug. 29, Seiter, 36, posted a video on his Instagram page stating he was “alive and well” and revealed his “account was hacked.”
“For the last 24 hours, I have been desperately trying 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 explained.
View this post on Instagram
In the video, Seiter apologized “for the pain” the hacker “caused when they made that post.”
“I just got back into my account. I’m going to do all I can with my team to try to identify who is behind this. But again, I apologize for the confusion,” he continued.
Seiter concluded his video by telling his followers he would update them “as more facts come in.”
According to Variety, a statement made allegedly by Seiter’s family was posted to his Instagram page announcing his death in a now-deleted post on Monday.
“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,” the statement read, adding, “His fearless voice and indomitable spirit helped thousands of people in their darkest moments feel just a little less alone.”
The statement continued, “Although our heartache at Joshua’s passing pains us beyond measure, we find comfort in 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.”
Seiter has been open about his mental health struggles on his Instagram page.
In July 2021, he revealed he had survived a suicide attempt at 21 and suffered from depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
View this post on Instagram
“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,” he wrote in the caption.
Furthermore, Seiter emphasized, “Therapy isn’t a weakness.”
“It requires an undeniable toughness. And it is so worth it,” he concluded.