Ashley Sawyer Dies: MTV ‘Catfish’ Subject Was 23

Ashley Sawyer, who appeared on Season 2 of MTV’s Catfish, has died. She was 23. The cable channel confirmed today that she died in Alabama during the weekend, but no cause of death was given.

“MTV is deeply saddened to learn that Ashley Sawyer has passed away,” the network said in a statement. “Our condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends.”

Sawyer appeared in the 2013 “Ashley & Mike” episode of Catfish, the docuseries that brings together couples who’ve interacted solely through social media and the Internet. She contacted producers about finally meeting her seven-year online flame; they both had used al-tered images of themselves after striking up a conversation in a chat room. The man was Michael Fortunato, who died at 26 of a pulmonary embolism a month after the episode aired.

MTV said Sawyer appeared on a recent Catfish catchup special, whe-re she revealed that she was staying in a sober-living facility after struggling with addiction. The network said she since had completed a program at the facility, had a job and was living in her own apartment in Alabama.

Catfish host Max Joseph tweeted his condolences:

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