Malia White and her brother, Jayseph.Photo:Rodolfo Martinez/Bravo via Getty; Malia White/ Instagram
Rodolfo Martinez/Bravo via Getty; Malia White/ Instagram
Malia Whitemade her first public appearance on Friday since her brother Jayseph died last month at the age of 34.
TheBelow Deck Mediterraneanalumna andWinter Housestar appeared atBravoCon 2023in Las Vegas, where PEOPLE caught up with her on the red carpet.
“I’m doing okay,” White, 33, says, holding back tears. “It’s… it’s been a lot, but I’m hanging in there.”
Jayseph died on Oct. 5 after what White called “a battle with addiction.”
She told PEOPLE on Friday at Caeser’s Forum that she was grateful for the kindness she’s received from fans in the wake of the loss. “I’ve gotten a lot of love and support," White says. “Everyone has been very sweet about it and my cast rallied around me which is nice.”
Malia White at BravoCon 2023.Rich Polk/Bravo via Getty
Rich Polk/Bravo via Getty
The love has also come from the public, she notes, many of whom have expressed they’ve had similar experiences. “I think sharing my brother’s story and how he passed away really helped a lot of other people,” White says. “It’s shocking how many families and people are dealing with addiction. So that’s the one thing I can take from it.”
“If we can all just be there for each other — really be there — I think it would solve a lot of problems,” she adds.
For more of PEOPLE’s BravoCon coverage,click here.
On Oct. 10, White shared news of her brother’s deathon Instagram.
“To everyone who knew our brother Jay, it’s with a heavy heart we announce the sad news of his death,” the post began. “Thursday, October 5th Jayseph (34) passed away in the middle of the night after a battle with addiction.”
“His death is a devastating loss for our family and his friends, but we are grateful for the time we had with him,” White continued. “Jay was happiest outdoors, especially with a fishing pole in his hand alongside a riverbank with his dog Aspen. To those who had the pleasure of knowing Jay, he was truly a kind soul, willing to help anyone at a moment’s notice. This is how we’ll always remember him.”
“We will share information about a celebration of life at a later date,” she added.
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In addition to appearing on the red carpet, White also sat on theWinter Housepanel alongside costarsAmanda Batula,Tom Schwartz,Kyle Cooke,Danielle Olivera,Brian Benniand more.
She had skipped the show’s official premiere party in New York City last month.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
source: people.com
