Bachelorette star Josh Seiter is accused of FAKING her gender transition for attention after death hoax scandal – but she says trolls are just jealous of her beautiful looks
A former Bachelorette star has shocked fans of the franchise by coming out as transgender.
Josh Seiter, who now uses she/her pronouns, announced her plans to transition to a woman in May.
While fans initially supported the 37-year-old’s decision, some have now questioned her intentions and accused the reality star of ‘trolling’ for attention.
Seiter, who became embroiled in a death hoax last year, raised eyebrows during her gender journey by refusing to shave her body hair and claiming she felt “more feminine” when she didn’t wear a wig.
Speaking to DailyMail.com about the backlash, Seiter insisted her transition was the real deal – and said her haters were just jealous of her gorgeous looks.
Former Bachelorette star Josh Seiter has sparked backlash after coming out as a transgender woman
Seiter briefly appeared on Kaitlyn Bristowe’s season of The Bachelorette in 2015
“I get a lot of hate from the LGBTQ community and from people who consider themselves gatekeepers — even though they preach about love, tolerance and acceptance,” the Chicago native said.
“I find it ironic that a movement that values freedom and charts our own unique path is also one of the most judgmental movements. “I’ve actually found a lot more support from my conservative friends than from my so-called liberal friends.”
Seiter said she was largely unfazed by the backlash and rampant speculation surrounding her gender identity.
‘I think most people are just jealous because I’m a beautiful trans woman. I noticed that I looked better than most of the trans women who hate me in my DMs and comments, so I think the hate is just jealousy disguised as concern,” Seiter snapped.
“It’s sad that my transition is confusing so many people.”
Seiter first announced her intention to switch on May 20 in an open letter to her 960,000 Instagram followers.
“I have struggled with my gender identity – and the resulting feelings of guilt and shame – for as long as I can remember,” she wrote at the time.
‘I have tried to keep this side of me private for the past thirty years. I felt like I had no choice, given my upbringing in a strict religious, conservative family.”
Seiter raised eyebrows about her gender journey by refusing to shave her body hair and claiming she felt ‘more feminine’ when she didn’t wear a wig
Before and after: Compared to her traditionally masculine look before, Seiter now wears women’s clothing and makeup
She went on to say that she had projected “the image of a strong, manly son and brother” to the world, but that she no longer wanted to hide her true self.
Although Seiter received an outpouring of support from fans at the time, the tide has turned in recent weeks, with many accusing the Bachelorette alum of “faking” her transition for the sake of power.
“He does it for attention!” one follower raged, while another wrote: ‘This must be a social experiment to see our reactions.’
Another commented: ‘If you’re not a man anymore, start shaving your face. The make-up and beard don’t match at all.’
Since beginning her transition, Seiter has not removed her body hair or shaved her face.
“I think most people are just jealous because I’m a beautiful trans woman,” Seiter told DailyMail.com
“I’m going to keep it,” she said in a recent video.
‘I love my facial and body hair. It gives me a feeling of peace. It gives me a feeling of peace. It makes me feel safe. And I think it looks nice.’
In a follow-up video titled “stop policing women’s body hair,” Seiter lashed out at the criticism she’s received for wearing a 5 o’clock shadow.
‘It’s her. I decide what I want to do with it. Newsflash – [cisgender] women have body hair. Trans women have body hair. It’s just a matter of what we’re going to do with it, and that’s nobody’s business.”
In another Instagram video, Seiter complained about women’s clothing sizes after her muscular 6-foot-4 frame couldn’t fit into a large woman’s blouse.
She also said it was unfair that as a transgender woman she was forced to pay for dinner during a date.
“I just want to go on a date and have the man be a gentleman and treat me like a woman,” she said.
Seiter later claimed she was the victim of transphobic abuse after using a public women’s restroom.
Since beginning her transition, Seiter has not removed her body hair or shaved her face
Seiter also said she was a victim of transphobic abuse after using a women’s restroom
Last year, fans were alarmed when a report from Seiter’s alleged family falsely confirmed that she had died.
“It is with extremely heavy hearts that we share the tragic news of Joshua’s unexpected passing,” the statement said.
“As anyone who knew him can attest, Joshua was an incredibly bright light in an increasingly dark world. His fearless voice and unyielding spirit made thousands of people feel a little less alone in their darkest moments.
“While our heartbreak at Joshua’s passing pains us beyond measure, we find comfort in knowing that he is finally at peace.”
The next day, Seiter reappeared online to reveal that she was the victim of a death hoax.
Taking to her page with a video, she clarified, “Hey guys, as you can see, I’m alive and kicking. My account was hacked. I’ve been desperately trying to get into it for the past 24 hours.
“Someone made a cruel joke and made fun of my mental illness and the struggles I have gone through with depression and suicide attempts. I’m sorry for any pain they caused when they posted that message.”
When asked why it took so long to prove she was actually alive, she told TMZ she prioritized getting her Instagram account back.
Seiter has been working as an OnlyFans model since coming out as bisexual
The former reality star was also involved in a shocking death hoax last year
Months before the death hoax, Seiter made headlines after coming out as bisexual.
“I think the timing of me coming out as bisexual is quite providential, considering I’m making this announcement during Pride Month,” Seiter told Instinct magazine, noting that she had a religious upbringing.
“Unlike some people, my awareness of my bisexuality manifested itself later in life.”
She added: ‘Now, in retrospect, I can clearly see that I have been strongly aware of my bisexuality and my attraction to men and women since college.’
Seiter also said she would “star in a series of adult films” after starting an OnlyFans account.
“Coming out was the most liberating experience of my life, and it has opened up so many amazing opportunities for growth,” she said.
“This is just one rung on the ladder of bisexual experience that I want to climb, and I couldn’t be more excited about the future.”