Circumstances Around Josh Seiter's 'Death' Hack Remain Murky as Ex- Accuses Him of Faking It

Note: Since publication, Josh Seiter reach out to make the following statement: "In the article you published yesterday you quoted Monica but didn't quote me. She's not my ex. I hung out with her a grand total of 3 times in my life. I'm sure she's a great person, but we don't know each-other like that. Sadly, she's using her three public encounters with me to suggest we were a couple. It's sad. You can quote me on this."

The circumstances surrounding the supposed death of Josh Seiter remain unclear after the ex-"Bachelorette" contestant announced that someone hacked his Instagram account and announced his death. "On Monday, August 28, Seiter's account posted that he was dead, alluding to his mental-health struggles by posting information about the 988 SMS suicide crisis hotline," reports The Insider.

Seiter maintained that he was hacked, but others are doubting his story, even an ex-.

TMZ wonders why "there was an 18-hour gap between the announcement of his death and his claiming it was false."

TMZ writes: "The ex-'Bachelorette' star appeared on 'TMZ Live' Wednesday and we peppered him with questions about the long, long period of radio silence ... both from him and his family." (TMZ did not provide a transcript.)

"Josh says he was trying to manage a ton of texts and calls from concerned friends/family, which raises the question ... why didn't someone he called tell media outlets – including TMZ – the death post was a hoax?"

And his ex-, "Drag Race" alum Monica Beverly Hillz, "is accusing Josh Seiter of faking his own death," writes The Insider.

"Hillz and Seiter, who is best known for being on one episode of 'The Bachelorette' in 2015, began officially dating two weeks ago, according to an Entertainment Weekly interview with Hillz on the situation," The Insider detailed. "They'd known each other previously from the drag scene, where Hillz worked as a queen and Seiter was a go-go boy. Hillz posted a selfie with Seiter (now taken down) purportedly commemorating their newfound relationship and says she was bombarded with messages calling Seiter a 'clout chaser.' Seiter has previously dated reality TV stars, including women from '90 Day Fiancé' and 'Love After Lockup,' according to EW. Hillz claims the relationship ended on August 22."

Entertainment Weekly reached out to Seiter for comment Tuesday. Seiter denied perpetrating the hoax himself. "Those are all ridiculous accusations made up by somebody with nothing better to do with their time," he said in an email. "As a mental health advocate, issues of suicide are very sensitive for me. To suggest that I would orchestrate a death post around that issue is sickening. I have dedicated the last 8 years of my life blogging and raising awareness about mental health, and I will continue to do so. Regardless of what my detractors have to say."

On Wednesday, Seiter told his story to The Advocate. He explained he was traveling on Monday when he realized he couldn't get into his Instagram account. He then began receiving concerned messages from friends about his "death" post. He responded to them, but refused to divulge their identities to the Advocate for privacy reasons.

"I spent the next 19, 20 hours frantically trying to get back into my account," he explained. "That was my main priority because although I could individually respond to messages from family and friends, I felt like the best way to universally let everyone know that I'm okay was to get back control of my account."

But his ex-, Monica Beverly Hillz, wasn't buying Seiter's story.

"I'm baffled," Monica told Entertainment Weekly, "I'm angry. I'm happy he's alive, I'm happy he's here, but this is so infuriating to me."

In her lengthy Instagram post, Monica writes: "I'm happy to hear he's alive, but I'm so angry at the situation. It's infuriating that so many people who care about Josh have been deeply effected by this.

"Everyone deserves grace, but unfortunately I can't help but think that he was able to pull this stunt as a cisgender white man – acting like he was dead – when so many of my sisters and trans women of color have been brutally murdered this year and the same love and support isn't show to them.

"Men who do this shit are usually trying to compensate for some insecurity or darkness inside them. The dolls know all too well that these men are dangerous and I saw the red flags fast a mile away. To keep it frank – ban his instagram account, he needs to get help or lock his ass up."