<p id=”par-1_10″>These <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/the-bachelor”>Bachelor Nation</a> stories didn’t end in happily ever after. </p>
<p id=”par-2_52″>Over the years, a number of people who’ve appeared on <em>The Bachelor </em>and <em>The Bachelorette </em>have died. The most recent tragedy involved season 21 cast member Hailey Merkt, who died on July 26 of leukemia. She’s one of at least 10 <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/most-followers-bachelor-nation-instagram.html/”>Bachelor Nation alums</a> to pass away after appearing in the franchise. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-hailey-merkt”>Hailey Merkt </h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Hailey-Merkt-The-Bachelor.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Hailey Merkt meets Nick Viall on ‘The Bachelor'” class=”wp-image-3695226″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Hailey and Nick | Rick Rowell/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-3_20″>Merkt, 31, appeared on <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/the-bachelor-star-nick-viall-has-some-critical-thoughts-about-the-golden-bachelor.html/”>Nick Viall’s season of <em>The Bachelor</em></a><em>, </em>which aired in 2016. She went home in week 2. </p>
<p id=”par-4_27″>“It is with broken hearts we share that our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight for her life,” read a post on Merkt’s <a href=”https://www.instagram.com/p/C-Dl5VNpMBN/?hl=en&img_index=1″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Instagram</a>. </p>
<p id=”par-5_12″>On his <a href=”https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-viall-files/id1448210981″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”><em>The Viall Files</em></a><em> </em>podcast, Viall called Merkt’s death “very sad.” </p>
<p id=”par-6_30″>“I didn’t really get to know her very well at all, but I very much vividly remember her, and I remember her to be very sweet and kind,” he said. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-tyler-gwodz”>Tyler Gwodz </h2>
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<iframe title=”One-on-One With Tyler G. – The Bachelorette” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qcd1jjdDGmQ?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p id=”par-7_44″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/the-bachelorette-this-controversial-contestant-was-just-hospitalized-for-an-overdose.html/”>Tyler Gwodz was a contestant</a> on Hannah Brown’s season of <em>The Bachelorette. </em>He and Brown went on one solo date, but Gwodz vanished from the show soon after with no explanation. Gwodz later told <a href=”https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/05/233889/why-did-tyler-g-leave-bachelorette”>Refinery29</a> that he left the show of his own accord. </p>
<p id=”par-8_14″>In January 2020, Gwodz died of a drug overdose in Florida. He was 29.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-eric-hill”>Eric Hill </h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-3″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Andi-Dorfman-Eric-Hill-The-Bachelorette.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Andi Dorfman talks to Eric Hill on ‘The Bachelorette'” class=”wp-image-3695222″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Andi and Eric | Rick Rowell/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-9_24″>Eric Hill appeared on Andi Dorfman’s season of <em>The Bachelorette, </em>which aired in 2014. Dorfman sent the self-described “adventurer” home early in the season.</p>
<p id=”par-10_40″>Not long after Hill finished filming for the show, but before the episodes aired, he died at age 31 in a paragliding accident. Rather than edit Hill out of the season, <em>The Bachelorette </em>addressed his death in the season premiere. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-clint-arlis”>Clint Arlis</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-4″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Kaitlyn-Bristowe-Clint-Arlis-Bachelorette.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Clint Arlis shows Kaityn Bristowe a picture on ‘The Bachelorette'” class=”wp-image-3695227″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Kaitlyn and Clint | Rick Rowell/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-11_39″>Clint Arlis was part of <em>The Bachelorette </em>Season 11, which aired in 2015. <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/the-bachelorette-2022-kaitlyn-bristowe-drags-show-twitter-treatment-gabby-rachel.html/”>Kaitlyn Bristowe</a> sent him home in episode 3. In January 2022, he was found dead in his parents’ home outside of Chicago. The cause was suicide. </p>
<p id=”par-12_47″>Though Bristowe admitted that she and Arliss didn’t part on good terms, she said in a social media video that she was “so sorry” to hear of his death (via <a href=”https://people.com/tv/bachelorette-alum-clint-arlis-cause-of-death-revealed/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>People</a>). “It’s such a huge loss, and I’m honestly just beside myself with this news,” she said.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-michael-nance”>Michael Nance </h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-5″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Emily-and-Michael-Bachelorette.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Emily Maynard talks to Michael Nance on ‘The Bachelorette'” class=”wp-image-3695224″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Emily and Michael | Craig Sjodin/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-13_26″>In 2012, Michael Nance competed for Emily Maynard’s affection on <em>The Bachelorette </em>Season 8. He died in 2017. The cause was multiple drug toxicity, <a href=”https://people.com/tv/bachelorette-michael-nance-cause-death-multiple-drug-toxicity/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>People</a> reported. </p>
<p id=”par-14_14″>During his time on <em>The Bachelorette, </em>Nance spoke about his addiction to prescription painkillers. </p>
<p id=”par-15_37″>“It’s a vicious cycle and it ate away at me for a long time,” he said. “I’m almost two years sober, now, and it’s not that easy — you have to completely change your way of living.”</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-cristy-caserta”>Cristy Caserta </h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-6″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Cristy-Brad-Womack-Bachelor.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Cristy meets Brad Womack on ‘The Bachelor'” class=”wp-image-3695223″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Cristy and Brad | Rick Rowell/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-16_37″>Cristy Caserta was a cast member on Brad Womack’s season of <em>The Bachelor </em>in 2011. She died suddenly in September 2018 at age 38. The cause was an enlarged heart and an overactive thyroid, <a href=”https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/bachelor-alum-cristy-casertas-cause-of-death-revealed/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Us Weekly</a> reported. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-erin-storm”>Erin Storm </h2>
<p id=”par-17_17″>Erin Storm appeared on <em>The Bachelor </em>Season 12 with Matt Grant. She was eliminated in week 3. </p>
<p id=”par-18_16″>In March 2016, Storm, who was a pilot, died in a small airplane crash in California. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-gia-allemand”>Gia Allemand </h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-7″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Gial-Allemand.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Gia Allemand poses in a white bikini” class=”wp-image-3695225″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Gia Allemand | Kevin Foley/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-19_35″>Gia Allemand appeared on <em>The Bachelor </em>in 2010, when she was the second-to-last woman eliminated by Jake Pavelka. She also appeared on the spinoff series <em>Bachelor Pad. </em>She later started dating NBA player Ryan Anderson. </p>
<p id=”par-20_15″>In August 2013, Allemand died by suicide following an argument with Anderson. She was 29.<strong> </strong></p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-alexa-lex-mcallister”>Alexa ‘Lex’ McAllister</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-8″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Lex-McAllister-The-Bachelor.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Lex McAllister talks to Jake Pavelka on ‘The Bachelor'” class=”wp-image-3695228″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Lex and Jake | Craig Sjodin/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-21_18″>Alexa “Lex” McAllister also competed on <em>The Bachelor </em>Season 14 in 2010. She was eliminated in week 1. </p>
<p id=”par-22_10″>McAllister died by suicide in February 2016. She was 31. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-julien-hug”>Julien Hug </h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-9″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Julien-Hug.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Portrait of Julien Hug from ‘The Bachelorette'” class=”wp-image-3695231″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Julien Hug | Kevin Foley/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
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<p id=”par-23_21″>Julien Hug competed to win Jillian Harris’ heart on <em>The Bachelorette </em>Season 5<em> </em>in 2009. He was eliminated in week 2. </p>
<p id=”par-24_32″>Hug was found dead in a remote area of Riverside County, Calif. in 2010. His family later revealed that he was suffering from “acute depression” and had died by suicide, <a href=”https://extratv.com/2010/11/05/family-confirms-julien-hugs-death-was-suicide/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Extra</a> reported.</p>
<p id=”par-25_33″><strong><em>How to get help:</em></strong><em> In the U.S., call the</em> <a href=”https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”><em>National Suicide Prevention Lifeline</em></a><em> at 1-800-273-8255. Or text HOME to 741-741 to speak with a trained crisis counselor at the free </em><a href=”https://www.crisistextline.org/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”><em>Crisis Text Line</em></a><em>.</em></p>
<p id=”par-26_16″><em>For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to </em><a href=”https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWmTM34h0-P7FcCwuA6h6sw/videos” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”><em>Showbiz Cheat Sheet’s YouTube channel</em></a><em>.</em></p>