Kelsey Bateman dead: Rock of Love star, 39, dies 'unexpectedly'

Kelsey Bateman has died at the age of 39. The American reality star who found fame on Bret Michaels' Rock of Love died "recently". However, the cause of her death is yet to be announced.

Sources say that the 39-year-old died "unexpectedly". American media site TMZ reports that her cause of death is not known at this time. Kelsey was just 21 when she appeared in the final series of the TV show Rock of Love with Bret Michaels. In it, she competed for Michael's heart on the dating programme. She reached the final nine women but was brutally eliminated in the seventh episode.

The show, which aired between 2007 and 2009, followed 25 contestants as they competed to become Michael's girlfriend. In episode seven, Kelsey became too intoxicated with her co-stars, Farrah Sinclair and Ashley Klarich, and revealed that she ended up crying while on a speed bump.

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She said: "I ended up laying on a speed bump balling my eyes out but you know what? I'm here and I'm ready for whatever Brett has to say to me. But I mean, hey, I can't be the only girl that's got drunk and laid on a speed bump. Let's be honest." Bret later told Kelsey that he didn't believe that life on the road was the best place for her.

He said: "At some point I looked over during the concert and you were no longer there. And at some point you were laying on a speed bump talking saying you couldn't handle this any longer.

"I think tonight the fact that you are are needing to be who you are not, the fact you need to drink this much?

"I think you're awesome and a beautiful girl, and I said sometimes I have to make decisions for people, and my decision for you is that I'm going to let your tour end here." Kelsey, originally from Salt Lake City, said she had been "emotional." She said: "Sometimes I get drunk and lay on speed bumps it's just you know.

"Apparently Brett just can't handle a girl that likes to get drunk and lay on speed bumps. I mean maybe he's not used to it. I'm going to go home and I'm going to be single I'm not going to think about guys for a while but the next guy I find definitely won't be 44 and probably not a rock star."

The final series was won by Taya Parker, who enjoyed a brief relationship with Michaels after the show had completed filming.

"OMG can't believe it," said one social media user. A second went on to add: "May she rest in peace." While a third commented: "Oh wow! RIP," alongside a praying hands emoji and a dove emoji.

"God bless those that cared for her and the pain that follows that loss," said another. After the programme aired, Kelsey took a step back from the limelight, but reports claim that she kept in touch with her fellow co-stars and occasionally reunited with them in person.

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