The Heartbreaking Death Of Bachelorette Alum Clint Arlis

"Bachelorette" alum Clint Arlis, who was a contestant during Kaitlyn Bristowe's season, has died. Arlis died at his home in Chicago on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 according to The Sun. He was 34. 

Arlis' younger sister Taylor Lulek announced his death in a Facebook post. "It is with great sadness to tell you that my family has lost my best friend and older brother Clint on the morning of January 11th," she wrote. "Please respect our family's privacy as we try to cope with this great loss. Details on the service will follow." Lulek's heartbreaking post was accompanied by a loving childhood photo of Arlis and his two siblings. His cause of death is currently under investigation, reports Life & Style, though the Batavia Police Department do not suspect foul play at this time. 

Long before his reality TV stint, Arlis loved wrestling and was a part of his high school's wrestling club in Batavia, Illinois, per Deadline. Batavia Wrestling Coach Scott Bayer took to Twitter to celebrate Arlis' accomplishments in a series of tweets, writing "I have come to know Clint over the years since I joined Tom's coaching staff and the Batavia Wrestling Family in the late fall of 2005, after his graduation. I have found him to be extraordinarily devoted to his family and deeply committed to the sport wrestling at a level few of us have ever reach in our careers."

Since the news of Clint Arlis' death broke, Bachelor nation has paid tribute to the architectural engineer and reality star. Fellow "Bachelorette" Season 11 contestant (and winner) Nick Viall reminisced on their time together on the reality series in a January 13 tweet, writing "Just heard about the passing of Clint Arlis. I got a chance to get know Clint a little after our time on Kaitlyn's season and I always enjoy [our] time and conversations. A very kind, unique, and talented person who was taken from this world far too soon."

That same day, "Bachelorette" lead Kaitlyn Bristowe posted a heartfelt tribute to Arlis via her Instagram Story, reports Page Six. Bristowe started the video off expressing her shock over his death, calling it a tragedy. "Alright, this is an Instagram Story I did not think I'd be doing tonight but Clint, who was on my season of 'The Bachelorette,' I'm gonna say tragically — he tragically passed at 34 years old," her video began.

The "Dancing With the Stars" winner then went on to share thoughtful words on her late co-star, according to People. "All I want to say is that from knowing him on the show, even though things didn't end on the best terms for us, from his time on the show 'til today, I've heard nothing but incredible things about that person. From his peers, his students, his coaches, his teachers, his friends, his family. Clint was very well respected in his world, and it is an absolute tragedy of what's happened."