Kelsey Bateman, who appeared on the third season of the reality dating competition Rock of Love Bus with Bret Michaels in 2009, has died unexpectedly at the age of 39, a family source confirmed.
At 21, Bateman was one of 23 women vying for the affections of Poison frontman Bret Michaels. She made it to the final nine before being eliminated in the seventh episode after getting 'wasted' with fellow contestants.
In a confessional, Bateman recalled: 'I ended up laying on a speed bump balling my eyes out... I can’t be the only girl that’s got drunk and laid on a speed bump.' Michaels, now 62, told her the tour life wasn’t right for her, saying: 'I think tonight the fact that you are needing to be who you are not... I’m going to let your tour end here.'
Bateman countered that Michaels couldn't 'handle a girl that likes to get drunk and lay on speed bumps'. She added that her next boyfriend would 'definitely not be 44 and probably not a rock star'.
Though she stepped back from the limelight, she reportedly stayed in touch with former co-stars. Fans expressed shock online, with one writing: 'OMG can’t believe it' and another saying: 'May she rest in peace.'
