Nick Viall is seen for the first time since learning about the death of Hailey Merkt who was a contestant on his season of The Bachelor
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Bachelor alum Nick Viall has been seen for the first time since learning about the death of his Bachelor costar Hailey Merkt who vied for his heart on the dating show.
He was spotted shopping at Whole Foods in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Merkt, 31, competed on season 21 of The Bachelor where she hoped to end up with the 43-year-old reality TV star.
Nick – who welcomed daughter River with wife Natalie Joy earlier this year – looked understandably somber as he walked across the parking lot of the upscale grocery store in a white graphic t-shirt and dark blue sweatpants.
The podcast star carried a bag of groceries and looked down at his phone in one snap.
Several alums of the popular ABC dating show shared tributes to Hailey but Nick has yet to offer his condolences – publicly, at least.
Bachelor alum Nick Viall has been seen for the first time since learning about the death of his Bachelor costar Hailey Merkt who vied for his heart on the dating show
He was spotted shopping at Whole Foods in Los Angeles on Tuesday
On Tuesday, Merkt's Instagram page was updated with what appeared to be its first post in over two months, revealing that she had died following months of treatments for Leukemia.
'It is with broken hearts we share that our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight for her life,' the statement began.
It said she had 'faced this journey with unimaginable strength, grace, and selflessness,' adding that 'Her determination, courage, and will to live surpassed every timeline the doctors gave her, and she chose to spend her final moments surrounded by loved ones and doing what she cherished most with no regrets.'
'She will forever be remembered as anything but boring, always hysterically funny, and as someone who lived fully in the present moment,' it continued, and the statement said that she 'embraced life with an unmatched zest' and that 'her beautiful spirit has touched countless lives.'
'Hailey will be profoundly missed by all who knew her. Her laughter, her love, and her vibrant spirit have left an undeniable mark on our hearts,' the statement continued. 'While we grieve her loss, we find comfort in knowing that her spirit will live on in all the lives she touched. Rest in peace, Hailey.'
It offered thanks to her fans and supporters who had donated to a GoFundMe account, which was left open for those who still wished to donate.
Multiple fellow Bachelor contestants paid tribute to Merkt in the comments of the post.
“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. So much love to all your people,' wrote Danielle Maltby, who had also competed on season 21 with her.
On Tuesday, Merkt's Instagram page was updated with what appeared to be its first post in over two months, revealing that she had died following months of treatments for Leukemia
'It is with broken hearts we share that our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight for her life,' the statement began
It said she had 'faced this journey with unimaginable strength, grace, and selflessness,' adding that 'Her determination, courage, and will to live surpassed every timeline the doctors gave her, and she chose to spend her final moments surrounded by loved ones and doing what she cherished most with no regrets'
It offered thanks to her fans and supporters who had donated to a GoFundMe account, which was left open for those who still wished to donate
Multiple fellow Bachelor contestants paid tribute to Merkt in the comments of the post
'Oh my gosh!!! I’m so so sad to hear this,' added Raven Gates, a fellow season 21 contestant. 'I was so hoping for her recovery. Rest easy, Hailey, you’ll never be forgotten.'
Merkt'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.'
Hailey had recently received a bone marrow transplant and thought she had a clean bill of health.
'After the bone marrow transplant had taken, she was told she had nine months to not even think about cancer, but in truth she only had 6 weeks before she got the terrible news that leukemia cells were back and moving fast,' Christopher Bennett, the organizer of Hailey's GoFundMe page wrote.
