An American art influencer was found dead at a luxury hotel in Brazil after she and friends were accused of being visibly drunk and stripping in public just a day before her death. The report emerged on the same day a final video was posted to social media by the 40-year-old, showing her rambling, slurring, and struggling to stay on topic.
Discovery of the Body
The body of Hilde Lynn Helphenstein, known online as Jerry Gogosian, was discovered at the Rosewood Sao Paulo on Sunday by her plastic surgeon, according to reports. Her death is being treated as suspicious.
An empty vodka bottle, prescription pills, and broken glass were found inside the hotel room, according to Brazilian media site Globo. The surgeon told authorities that Helphenstein had been using drugs and that a few days earlier, he had taken her to a hospital due to a suspected overdose.
Incident at the Hotel Restaurant
On Saturday, a complaint was filed against Helphenstein and her friends for their drunken antics in one of the hotel's restaurants, according to a police report cited by Globo. The report stated that she and her friends made 'intimate demonstrations in public that evolved into a situation of partial exposure of the body, causing embarrassment to other guests.'
The same night as the alleged inappropriate behavior, Helphenstein uploaded a short speech to Instagram that appeared incoherent, with moments of slurring. She offered advice to her 152,000 followers, telling them to 'let the rich woman inside of you fly.' She encouraged viewers to get their makeup done while wearing a shawl and invent 'things that you're worried about.'
She added that her followers should worry and take deep breaths before slurring: 'Nicole Goodman, she has a lot of problems in every movie she's ever been in.' Helphenstein claimed her advice would help the psyche and noted that she hoped to worry about her husband going 'to prison for tax evasion.'
Background of the Influencer
Helphenstein, who had been in Brazil for about three weeks, was an artist and creator behind the popular Instagram account Jerry Gogosian. The satire page amassed more than 150,000 followers and often featured the artist commenting sarcastically on the art world or her personal life within the industry.
The socialite also published a Substack welcoming readers to dive deeper into her life beyond the 'art fairs, parties, and memes' she often posted. Helphenstein celebrated five years of sobriety in the 2024 Substack and was also a survivor of Typhus Rickettsia, a life-threatening bacterial disease that left her bedridden for a year. Additionally, she co-hosted a podcast called Art Smack, published a newsletter, and had plans of starting a television show, according to Art Review.
Hotel Statement and Investigation
The luxury hotel confirmed her death, according to Globo, with a spokesman stating: 'Rosewood Sao Paulo confirms that the guest Hilde Ann Lynn was found dead on the afternoon of Sunday, May 31. Since the observation of what happened, the hotel has provided full collaboration with the competent authorities, promptly providing all the information requested to assist in the investigation of the facts. In respect of the privacy of the guest, their family members and the work of the responsible authorities, the hotel will not comment on additional details at this time.'
A cause of death has not been released, and officials have launched an investigation. According to public records, Helphenstein lived in Coral Springs, Florida.
