Fans of the classic VH1 reality show Rock of Love are saying goodbye to former contestant Kelsey Bateman. Reports confirm she passed away at 39 years old. It’s a sad moment for those who followed her journey on screen.
Family sources shared the news with TMZ on Sunday, August 31. They described Bateman’s death as "unexpected." However, the exact reason or the date she passed away has not been shared publicly.
Bateman became a familiar face during the third and final season of Rock of Love With Brett Michaels. This VH1 reality show, which aired in 2009, brought together women competing to become the girlfriend of Brett Michaels. He’s the 62-year-old lead singer of the famous band Poison. That season was a bit different; the contestants lived on tour buses and traveled alongside Michaels.
Kelsey was only 21 years old when her season was filmed. She ended up finishing in ninth place. The winner of that season was Taya Parker, who was also known as Penthouse Pet of the Year 2009. Kelsey’s time on the show came to an end after an episode featuring games at a truck stop, where contestants were trying to win a date with Michaels.
She later admitted in a confessional that she had "gotten too drunk." This led to her breaking down in tears during the episode. Michaels then made the decision to send her home, saying she was too young to continue. "I ended up passed out on a speed bump, crying my eyes out, but you know what? I’m here and I’m ready for whatever Brett has to tell me," Bateman said in a confessional. She added, "But, I mean, I can’t be the only girl who’s gotten drunk and passed out on a speed bump. Let’s be honest."
Michaels later spoke to Bateman about his choice. He told her, "At some point during the concert I looked and you weren’t there anymore. I think you’re amazing and a beautiful girl, and I said that sometimes I have to make decisions for people. And my decision for you is that I’m going to let your tour end here."
After her elimination, Bateman shared her plans for the future. She intended to "go home" and "be single." She also had a funny take on her next boyfriend. "I’m not going to think about guys for a while," she said. "But the next guy I find definitely won’t be 44 and probably won’t be a rock star."
A representative for Brett Michaels did not immediately respond when Us Weekly reached out for comment. Us Weekly also contacted the police in Salt Lake City, a place Bateman seemed to call home according to her Facebook page.
The Rock of Love series concluded after its third season. It was then replaced by a docuseries called Bret Michaels: Life as I Know It. Michaels proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Kristi Lynn Gibson, during the finale of that show in 2010. However, the couple later separated in 2012. They share two daughters, Raine, who is 25, and Jorja, who is 20.