RIP Tyler Gwozdz: New Details On 'The Bachelorette' Contestant Who Died By Overdose At 29
A sad story.
getty Fans of The Bachelorette were shocked this week when it was announced that former contestant Tyler Gwozdz passed away by alleged heroin overdose.
Gwozdz appeared on the show's 15th Season, which aired in 2019, and he was the one who got the first one-on-one date of the season. But that didn't mean that he stuck around, as any Bachelor Nation fan would know.
In a twist, it wasn't Hannah B. who sent Gwozdz packing — it was the show's producers. Gwozdz was removed from the show during episode three due to some information they received about women he had dated in the past.
Who was Tyler Gwozdz? Find out more about the late Bachelorette contestant, the details of his time on the show, and his recent passing.
1. What did Hannah B. have to say?
Midway through the third eposide of The Bachelorette, Gwozdz was removed from the show. Hannah B. causally mentioned to the rest of the cast that he had been removed, but did not say why. This came just one week after Gwozdz got the first one-on-one date of the season.
"Tyler G. had to leave, and that's upsetting, because I really enjoyed my date with him," she told the camera.
After her date with him, Hannah said, "I think the date went really good. We didn't see our conversation the first night, but he just has a gentle spirit about him. I feel like he was a really good first date for me, because obviously my first dates don't always go that well."
She joked, obviously referring to her awkward first date with Colton Underwood on The Bachelor. "[Tyler] was just really calming and nurturing for me to feel confident going into these one-on-ones, because that's a long time with a person with a very intimate... well... as intimate as you can get."
2. Gwozdz was working on his PhD.
Gwozdz was a graduate student at Florida Atlantic University where he was working on his masters in clinical psychology on his way to his doctorate in the same subject. He got his Bachelor's degree in economics at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.
In the years in between his undergraduate and graduate school pursuits, he worked for SpikedSeltzer in the marketing and branding department. The brand was bought out by Anheuser-Busch in 2016.
3. A Reddit user once called him an "extreme misogynist".
None of Gwozdz's accusers came forward publicly to go on record about his alleged behavior — but it should be noted that The Bachelorette's producers found the claims credible enough to have him immediately removed from the show.
An anonymous Reddit user took to the site to describe how two of her best friends went to high school with Gwozdz and they call him "the biggest a-hole douche of all time." The user said her friend called Gwozdz an "extreme misogynist."
They also detailed how he treated an ex-girlfriend, saying, “Apparently, he dated a really sweet girl, but they would get in public screaming matches often. The relationship ended horrifically — while in Europe he SPIT ON HER and left.”
4. A source then came out in defense of Gwozdz.
A source that had claimed to be close to Gwozdz defended him.
According to the source, “Everyone has rough relationships. I don’t know the details but when you’re younger you don’t realize the importance of certain things. Every relationship helps you grow and I’m sure that’s the case with Tyler... All I know is there is two sides to every story. If he spit on a girl or yelled at her in public, that’s not great, but I know Tyler and I’m sure whatever has happened in his past he’s learned from it. Whatever happened with that situation, I’m sure it was a long time ago, I’m sure he apologized for it.”
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5. Gwozdz responded to the allegations.
Gwozdz himself released a statement on the event, denying the allegations and claiming to be a good son just trying to make his mom proud.
He said, "Addressing totally unsubstantiated rumors posted to Reddit from an anonymous account seems imprudent. I feel that even addressing them gives them some sort attention and fuel but I continue to have faith in my journey and in a purpose for everything that’s happened to me in my life. Above everything else I am a son to my mother. She raised me to be better than these sort of baseless accusations. The rumors are so far out of the realm of my personality and values that it seems silly to waste time denying, but I suppose I will for the record. BUT I will be alright."
6. Gwozdz claimed that it was his decison, and he and his family were being bullied.
Gwozdz's email went on to say that the decision to leave the show was one he came to with the producers. He claimed that his exit wasn't aired to respect his privacy.
And then he went on to talk about cyber-bullying and how anyone can take to the internet to say anything they want about anyone.
"...It’s having a shocking effect on the younger generation, ESPECIALLY young women. Girls are about twice as likely as boys to be victims of cyberbullying, and bullying victims are 2 to 9 times more likely to consider committing suicide. Please think about what you post. I am more than happy to take the slings and arrows of the internet world if it can help save one young person from experiencing what my family and I are currently battling. If you are lost, message me. I’m here for you. Reach out. There is love in this world," he said.
7. Gwozdz passed away in January 2020.
Fans of The Bachelorette were shocked to learn of the former contestant's recent passing. According to the Boca Raton Police Department, Gwozdz was rushed to the hospital on Janaury 13, 2020 after he possibly overdosed on heroin. He was reportedly in the hospital for a week before he passed.
In the 911 call that was made by an unknown woman, she told the dispatchers that it may have been heroin.
The producers of The Bachelorette released a statement about Gwozdz's passing saying, "We are heartbroken to hear the tragic news of Tyler's passing today. Our thoughts are with the Gwozdz family and his friends." They also said that he was "a loving son and a friend to many."
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Amy Lamare is a Los Angeles based freelance writer covering entertainment, pop culture, beauty, fashion, fitness, technology, and the intersection of technology, business, and philanthropy. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook.