Lucian Piane, best known for his work on RuPaul’s Drag Race, has died, Us can confirm. He was 46.
Piane died in the street on Monday, October 12, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner online records viewed by Us. His cause and manner of death have not yet been determined. An examination of Piane’s body is scheduled, according to the records.
TMZ was first to report the news. Law enforcement sources told the outlet that Piane was hit by a car in Glendale, California, on Monday morning and succumbed to his injuries.
The Glenside Fire Department told the outlet that crews worked on Piane and ultimately pronounced him dead at the scene.
Piane worked as a musical adviser, composer and guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race, first appearing on the show during season 1 in 2009. He frequently appeared in episodes with music-themed challenges.
Piane last appeared on the reality show during the season 8 episodes “Bitch Perfect” and “New Wave Queens” in 2016.
Piane publicly battled substance abuse and mental health issues for years following his exit from the show. In 2016, he made headlines for a series of offensive tweets that featured racist remarks and accusations about LGBTQ+ figures. He later apologized for his behavior, citing “marijuana psychosis.” He claimed to have ingested 800mg of cannabis edibles to treat “full body pain” and “terrible fatigue.”
“I am sorry to have hurt anyone along the way,” he wrote.
In the days before his death, fans raised concerns about Piane due to some alarming social media posts.
“People love you. Please get yourself some help, Lucian. 😢,” one fan wrote under a recent video Piane posted of himself talking to someone at a school and telling them he heard a scream from the auditorium.
Others have used Piane’s comment sections to pay tribute to the late reality star.
“Lucian was my friend,” SiriusXM radio host Larry Flick wrote. “It wasn’t always easy. He was troubled, complicated, and filled with rage that he didn’t know how to manage. Like many, I tried to help until he made it impossible. Guilt right now is real. The way he left this life was tragic and brutal. But I pray rest and peace await him on the other side.”
Piane shared an update on his sobriety journey via Instagram in August.
“Sober over a year and getting back in the game. 🥰 🏃♂️,” he wrote alongside a selfie.
