Channel Seven’s popular reality series Bride and Prejudice has been hit by a string of tragedies since it went off air in 2019.
Suicide, fatal car accidents and a drug overdose have claimed the lives of no fewer than four contestants on the show, which at its peak drew almost 1 million viewers per episode.
“Bride and Prejudice” followed unhappy couples who attempted marriage while battling disapproving family members.
The show’s latest tragedy happened on April 29 when season 3 star Dannii Erskine died in a fatal car accident at the age of 28.
She was driving back from the shops on Friday when an allegedly drunk driver hit her car, her sister Dee told So Dramatic.
Four cast members have died on Channel Seven’s now-defunct reality series Bride and Prejudice since 2019. Milly Johnson and Micah Downey are pictured
The series’ latest tragedy happened on April 29 when season 3 star Dannii Erskine (pictured) died in a fatal car accident at the age of 28
“When she went through a green light, a driver was drunk and gave her a T-Bone,” Dee said, adding that Dannii’s “skull was crushed on impact with the airbag.”
Dannii was pronounced legally dead – or brain dead – at the hospital at 12:01am Saturday morning and her life support was turned off almost six hours later at 5:45am.
She was just getting her life back on track after a bad breakup when she died, her heartbroken sister revealed.
“She died on the morning of April 29 at 00:01. she will be Loved [and] greatly missed… It was a terrible tragedy,” revealed Dee.
“She was 28, full of life and trying her best to move on and meet someone. Now she won’t get that chance again.”
Dannii appeared in the third season of Bride and Prejudice with her then-fiancé Denton.
Dannii was pronounced legally dead – or brain dead – at the hospital at 12:01am Saturday morning and her life support was turned off almost six hours later at 5:45am
Dannii appeared in the third season of Bride and Prejudice with her then-fiancé Denton. The former couple are pictured together
The first cast member to tragically die was Micah Downey, who lost his battle with drugs in late 2019 at the age of just 26.
The young man’s drug counselor, Jodi Barber, revealed in a Facebook post on March 31.
“Micah’s parents don’t want this to happen to another young life,” Ms Barber said. “You understand it was preventable!”
It’s believed Micah was prescribed “two different benzodiazepines” to treat a heroin addiction, which Ms Barber didn’t think was the right course of action.
“There has to be a better way to manage anxiety and depression for heroin addicts,” she said. “Micah will never be forgotten and will be deeply missed. Prayers for his family.”
Micah’s ex-fiancée Milly Johnson, who also starred in Bride and Prejudice, was pregnant with his child at the time of his death.
The first cast member to tragically die was Micah Downey, who lost his battle with drugs in late 2019 at the age of just 26. Pictured with ex-partner Milly
Micah’s ex-fiancée Milly Johnson, who also starred in Bride and Prejudice, was pregnant with his child at the time of his death
“It’s so sad and incredibly surreal that I’m making this post. Micah Patrick Downey passed away on December 28, 2019,” she wrote on Instagram at the time.
“I have trouble putting into words how sad and heartbreaking this is. I just hope that he is at peace wherever he is and that he will always take care of his babies.
‘A bad, bad dream. I can’t believe you’re not here. Rest in Peace Micah.’
Milly and Micah already had a two-year-old son together named Julian at the time of Micah’s death.
The couple had split after filming Bride and Prejudice and Micah had moved back to California where his family lives.
Channel Seven released a statement on Tuesday, which read: “The Bride and Prejudice team is devastated by the news of the loss of Micah Downey.
“Our thoughts and deepest sympathy are with his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”
Milly shared a heartbreaking post after Micah’s death, saying he wanted to “change” before his overdose
Micah left two children with Milly when he died
After their split, Milly told her Instagram followers that the couple “rarely spoke” despite having one child together and another on the way.
“We chat, but rarely speak to each other,” she said during a Nov. 28 Q&A session.
“I still have my sad days as I think that ideally each parent would love to raise their children with the other parent in a healthy relationship.”
Milly called off her wedding to Micah during an episode of Bride and Prejudice after revealing she was concerned his use of alcohol and marijuana would have a bad effect on her son.
She said on the show: “He’s not well and needs a lot of help and I feel for him because I love him but he’s really made progress.
‘And I thought he had. I’m so sad because I don’t want Julian to grow up like this. He just doesn’t need a role model like that.”
Tragedy struck again in 2021 when James Ciseau, who appeared in the third season in 2019, died after a horror car crash in Queensland.
James and Tori Ciseau, who appeared in the third season in 2019, also lost their lives. Both pictured
The Tradie, who appeared alongside his wife Tori on the reality show, died in a tragic head-on collision in Beerwah.
James, then 36, was involved in an accident at the intersection of Roys Rd and Dianella Rd around 4pm on Monday.
A spokeswoman for the Queensland Police Service told The Courier Mail at the time that the cause of the head-on collision, which paralyzed the intersection for several hours, was being investigated.
“James was loved by everyone he met, he walked into a room and made it brighter, like a ray of sunshine,” his sister Lauren Ciseau, 33, told the Courier Mail.
“He had so much energy and wanted to be around people all the time. His favorite word to describe himself was jovial.”
James is survived by his two daughters, Olivia-Rose, who was five, and Bella-Pearl, who had just turned two
“Bride and Prejudice” followed unhappy couples who attempted marriage while battling disapproving family members
James is survived by his two daughters, Olivia-Rose, who was five, and Bella-Pearl, who had just turned two.
“He was the most amazing dad to these girls, they would look up to him so much,” his youngest sister Jacinta told The Courier Mail.
It is understood that James was working as a pool builder and was living with his mother Deborah and stepfather Barry at the time of his death.
In another heartbreaking turn of events, James’ widow Tori reportedly took her own life in January this year.
According to So Dramatic, the news was confirmed by members of the Ciseau family.
The couple is survived by their daughters Olivia-Rose, six, and Bella-Pearl, three.
Tori shared a touching post about motherhood before her death, writing, “So proud of my babies and how far they’ve come.
“There are definitely tough days as a solo mom, but all I have to do is look at things like this and remind myself that no matter what, we three girls have so much to be grateful for. The love and laughter we share is unbreakable.”
Tori and James were one of season 3’s most contentious couples due to her conflict with Tori’s mother, Mary-Ann
Mary-Ann (pictured) disapproved of Tradie James and has also had a number of issues with her own daughter Tori
In another previous post, Tori admitted she was struggling following James’ death and the notoriety that resulted from being in the public eye.
“For anyone out there who needs advice – listen up,” she wrote. “Social media is the devil.”
“You get the feeling that you have to give things of your life when you don’t give it. I don’t have to tell you about me or my kids because I’m done, okay?’ she continued.
“Thank you for following me, that’s great, but other than that, this is literally just the end and I can’t handle it anymore.”
She then said that she wanted “to be left alone” and had no interest in sharing her private life with her fans and followers.
In another heartbreaking turn of events, James’ widow Tori reportedly took her own life in January this year after struggling with mental health issues
“Like I said, I want to live a quiet life and make sure my girls grow up really well and are happy and happy. That’s all I can wish for them.
“I just want to be able to go shopping and not be recognised. Just let her lead a normal life. I just want them to have a normal life and I don’t think that’s really hard to ask for.
Bride and Prejudice premiered on Channel Seven in 2017 and attracted almost a million viewers in its first episode.
It continued for two more seasons until 2019, when it was quietly canceled following Micah’s shock death.
The series also aired in the UK, where it gained a loyal following.
Since the series of tragic deaths, Seven has removed Bride and Prejudice from its streaming platforms, making it unavailable to watch.