Nick Viall, the former Bachelor, has paid tribute to Hailey Merkt, a contestant on his season of the show who sadly passed away at the age of 31 after a courageous battle with cancer.
On his podcast, The Viall Files, Nick recalled Hailey as a “sweet and kind” person, sending his condolences to her family. He said, “It’s just very tragic… She struggled with a very tough battle with leukemia, it sounds like, and recently passed away.”
Nick Viall has remembered Hailey Merkt, a contestant on his season of The Bachelor who tragically passed at age 31 following a struggle with cancer; pictured 2022
Nick added, “Our love and hearts go out to her family, who are obviously going through it. It sounds like she really put up a very courageous fight and, unfortunately, she’s with us no more. But, very sad to see that she passed and we’re definitely praying for her and her family.”
Hailey had appeared on season 21 of The Bachelor, competing for Nick’s affections, but was eliminated in week two. Nick ultimately became engaged to contestant Vanessa Grimaldi, but they split up, and he now shares a six-month-old daughter, River Rose, with his wife Natalie Joy.
It was revealed on Hailey’s Instagram account that she had passed away following months of treatment for leukemia. A statement on her Instagram account said, “It is with broken hearts we share that our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight for her life.”
The former Bachelor contestant Hailey died on July 26 at age 31 following a tragic struggle with cancer, according to a statement posted to a GoFundMe
Multiple fellow Bachelor contestants paid tribute to Hailey in the comments of the post, including Danielle Maltby, who wrote, “I count myself so lucky to know your laugh and grateful to have met and loved the realest, warmest, most beautiful soul in the weirdest of places. Forever grateful for your friendship there and in the real world…. What a force my girl, rest easy.”
Raven Gates, another fellow season 21 contestant, added, “Oh my gosh!!! I’m so so sad to hear this. I was so hoping for her recovery. Rest easy, Hailey, you’ll never be forgotten.”
Hailey’s costar Dominique Alexis wrote, “My love, I hope you are in the most beautiful peaceful place. I can’t imagine that I won’t see you again but I’ll cherish every memory together. Love you.”
A statement added to Hailey’s GoFundMe page from its organizer, Christopher Bennett, shared more details of her cancer battle and explained a tragic reversal in her health after she thought she had received a clean bill of health.
‘It is with broken hearts we share that our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight for her life,’ the statement began
The statement noted that Hailey’s brother Kyle had donated stem cells to her, “which allowed her the incredibly valuable extra time.” It concluded, “The world without her is unacceptable, but we are having to accept it. We will hold her close forever.”
Hailey’s Instagram account was filled with stunning photos of herself, as well as her own photography, but toward the end of her life, she documented her cancer journey in stark yet hopeful posts.
In one post from October 2023, she showed off her bare head after having lost her hair to cancer treatments as she received an infusion.
In a cheerful mirror selfie posted on November 4, a day after her birthday, she grinned while flaunting her figure in low-rise pants, a sheer green top, and a fur-lined gray suede jacket, along with a thick, fuzzy brown hat.
In a cheerful mirror selfie posted on November 4, a day after her birthday, she grinned while flaunting her figure in low-rise pants, a sheer green top and a fur-lned gray suede jacket while wearing a thick, fuzzy brown hat
Hailey’s GoFundMe will remain open until August 10, with donations going to her mother, Michele Merkt.