Kelsey Bateman, a former contestant on the VH1 reality dating series Rock of Love, has died at the age of 39, her family confirmed to TMZ. The cause of death has not been disclosed, though her family described it as “unexpected.”
Bateman, a Utah native, competed on the show’s third and final season in 2009 when she was 21. She was among 22 women vying for the attention of Poison frontman Bret Michaels as they joined him on his tour bus.
During her time on the series, Bateman advanced to the final nine contestants before being eliminated in the seventh episode. Her exit followed an incident in which she admitted to drinking heavily with fellow contestants Farrah Sinclair and Ashley Klarich. In her confessional, Bateman acknowledged becoming emotional after passing out on a speed bump, joking that she could not be the only contestant who had overindulged.
Michaels, now 62, explained during the elimination that he did not believe Bateman could handle the demands of his lifestyle. “At some point you were laying on a speed bump saying you couldn’t handle this any longer,” he said, adding that her behavior suggested she was “needing to be who you are not.” Despite calling her “awesome and a beautiful girl,” Michaels ultimately told Bateman that her “tour” would end there.
Following her elimination, Bateman expressed disappointment but maintained a sense of humor, remarking that perhaps Michaels “just can’t handle a girl that likes to get drunk and lay on speed bumps.”
Michaels later chose Taya Parker as the season’s winner, though their relationship was short-lived. Off-screen, Michaels married Kristi Gibson in 2013, with whom he shares two daughters, Raine and Jorja.
Bateman’s passing marks a somber moment for fans of the reality series, which ended after its third season.
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