The Bachelor Contestant Hailey Merkt Has Died At 31

Hailey Merkt, a competitor on the 21st season of the ABC reality series “The Bachelor,” passed away on Tuesday, her family said, following a fight with leukemia.

Merkt, 31, departed from this life on Friday.

A statement on her Instagram page said, “We share with broken hearts the news that our beloved Hailey passed away after a courageous fight for her life.” “Hailey showed unfathomable bravery, elegance, and selflessness in facing this trip. Her fortitude, tenacity, and will to live exceeded all the time frames the physicians provided her, and she made the conscious decision to live out her last hours with her loved ones by her side, doing the things she valued most.

One year after the singer’s death, the cause of Sinead O’Connor’s death was discovered 

Merkt, a native of Vancouver, British Columbia, participated in the 2017 season of “The Bachelor” with Nick Viall. Within the first few weeks of the tournament, she was eliminated.

After her last episode aired, she posted on X (then Twitter) with the message, “Cheers to all of the lovely people that are STILL rooting for me, even after being sent home.” “You’re all capable of making a girl smile.”

Years after receiving her leukemia diagnosis, Merkt started posting updates on her progress and treatment on Instagram. She said in an April 2024 GoFundMe post that, following an experimental treatment, she was “leukemia free,” but that she still had “a ton of healing” ahead of her.

In an update to that same GoFundMe fundraiser upon Merkt’s passing, it was revealed that her cancer had returned only six weeks after what was initially believed to be a successful bone marrow transplant.

“Her first reaction was to say, ‘I don’t care about myself anymore, but I can’t bear being the cause of so much pain for the people I love,’” according to the GoFundMe update.

The focus of the new reality TV series “Playground” is dancing studio dramas.

Many of Merkt’s close friends, including a few other “Bachelor” alumni, have posted condolences and recollections on social media.

A competitor on Merkt’s season, Lacey Palumbo, commented, “@HaileyMerkt was such a gem, the kindest soul, so fun to be around.” (where she went by Lacey Mark).

Season 21 cast member Raven Gates said, “I’m stunned by this news.” “I hit it off with @HaileyMerkt right away on the first night in the bachelor mansion. I was really hoping she would get well. Hailey, go to sleep.

According to her GoFundMe page, Merkt did not want a formal funeral.

“To leave a message for Hailey’s family or friends, or in her memory, please go to her Instagram account @haileymerkt,” the page said.

Cause of Sinead O’Connor’s death revealed 1 year after singer’s passing: reports

The Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O’Connor’s cause of death has reportedly been revealed in a death certificate filed by her former spouse, one year after she passed away at the age of 56.

On July 26, 2023, O’Connor was discovered dead at a London residence. O’Connor died of natural causes, according to a coroner’s report that was eventually released, although authorities in London did not view her death as suspicious.



But according to a death certificate filed in London last week, which was originally published by the Irish Independent, it gave a more specific cause of death. According to copies of O’Connor’s death certificate seen by The New York Times and the Irish Independent, she specifically passed away from low grade lower respiratory tract infection and bronchial asthma in addition to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking is the primary cause of COPD, a condition that impairs airflow to the lungs. Among the symptoms include coughing, dyspnea, and copious amounts of mucus.

According to the Mayo Clinic, COPD can worsen over time and increase the risk of developing heart disease or lung cancer, among other conditions.

“Survivor’s Remorse” actress Erica Ash passes away at age 46.

With the publication of her second album, “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got,” which included a rendition of Prince’s song “Nothing Compares 2 U,” O’Connor became well-known throughout the world in the early 1990s.

She gained notoriety in 1992 for tearing up a picture of Pope John Paul II while doing a skit on “Saturday Night Live.” She subsequently gave an explanation, saying that she tore up the image to raise awareness of child abuse in the Catholic Church.

Only a few weeks after her “SNL” appearances, O’Connor told Entertainment Tonight, “I am trying to fight child abuse, which I believe to be proof of the existence of evil in the world.”

The Irish president, prime minister, and recording artists including Bono and Bob Geldof attended O’Connor’s burial in August 2023. During a procession, fans likewise crowded the streets of her hometown.

New reality TV show ‘Playground’ puts dance studio dramas canter stage

London (AP) — A career in dance is, in actuality, difficult. The new reality series “Playground” on Hulu doesn’t sugarcoat that.

The drama explores the highs and lows of dancers aspiring to become professional stars and is based in the Playground dance studio in Los Angeles, which is home to well-known hip-hop choreographers and instructors.

Kenny Wormald, a dancer and choreographer at Playground, adds, “The struggle of a dancer is real.” “I think the show captures a lot of those moments, where there’s a lot of pressure and competition.”

This week, accusations of bullying from the professional dancers behind the scenes have put the British TV dance competition “Strictly Come Dancing” in the news.

Conflict is brought front and canter in “Playground,” which doesn’t sugarcoat the fights that occur at the Melrose Avenue site. But, dancers’ sexual rivalries and arguments over jobs are not the only things that go on.

The program, which premieres on July 26, features prominent musicians such as Tinashe and Megan the Stallion, as well as dancers and choreographers who are up-and-coming.

Executive producer of the “Playground” series is none other than hip-hop icon Megan.

According to Wormald, “we held this big audition for some of her upcoming jobs, music videos, tours, shows, and everything.” It is therefore incredible to have her on the show.

Speaking to The Associated Press from Playground’s London studio, Wormald discussed his migration to the United Kingdom with his family when it opened in September of last year.

Although the notion of a program set in London has been floated, he claimed that compared to Los Angeles, the British metropolis has “less drama.”

Though he did add that studio co-owner and founder of The Pussycat Dolls, Robin Antin, “thrives” among the personality theatrics, he still prefers it that way.

Wormald thinks the curriculum will provide young dancers with a path to success so they can emulate the accomplished dancers featured in “Playground.”

Locate a studio where students can study under the finest instructors if you want to become a professional dancer. Wormald had success with it; after taking courses with Justin Timberlake’s choreographer, Marty Kudelka, on multiple occasions, he was invited to join the singer’s 2007 tour.

“You just got to go for it. Go to LA, go to New York, go to London, go to Atlanta, wherever it is, and get in those classes because they’re all teaching. And now with Instagram, you can post your work,” he said. “Just putting yourself in those rooms and it’s only like $20 to take a class with your heroes.”

Hailey Merkt Dies: ‘The Bachelor’ Season 21 Contestant Was 31

The Bachelor Season 21 participant Hailey Merkt passed away. Her age was 31.

After battling illness, Merkt, who starred alongside Nick Viall as The Bachelor on the ABC dating reality series in 2016, passed away on July 26.

A post on Merkt’s Instagram page said, “It is with broken hearts we share that our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight for her life.” “Hailey showed unfathomable bravery, elegance, and selflessness in facing this trip. She defied all medical expectations with her tenacity, bravery, and will to live, and she made the conscious decision to live out her last days with her loved ones by doing the things she enjoyed most and without regrets.

According to the article, Merkt would “be remembered as someone who lived fully in the present moment, and as anything but boring and always hysterically funny.” Hailey had an unparalleled zeal for life, and her lovely attitude has affected many people.

The post went on, “Hailey will be deeply missed by everyone who knew her.” Her love, her laughter, and her lively attitude have irrevocably touched our hearts. We take solace in the knowledge that her spirit will endure in all the lives she touched, even as we mourn her passing. Hailey, rest in peace.

The article asked people to share their best memories of Merkt and thanked everyone who followed her “during this difficult journey.” To assist in supporting Merkt’s family, a GoFundMe page was created.

Further information on Merkt’s struggle was available on her crowdfunding page, which stated that “she was told she had nine months to not even think about cancer after a bone marrow transplant, but in truth she had only six weeks before she got the terrible news that leukemia cells were back and moving fast.”