Who Was Ben Rathbun? All About 90 Day Fiancé Star and His Cancer Battle as He Passes Away at 55
Ben Rathbun, known for his appearance on the reality TV show 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days, has passed away at the age of 55. He died at his home in Greencastle, Indiana, on May 19, surrounded by his family. Rathbun had been fighting stage 4 stomach cancer, which was diagnosed late last year.
Ben Rathbun became a familiar face to 90 Day Fiancé fans during season 5 of Before the 90 Days. At the time, he was a 52-year-old father of four. Rathbun's story centered on his online relationship with Mahogany Roca, a 22-year-old woman from Peru. The show follows couples who meet online and apply for a K-1 visa, giving them 90 days to marry after entering the U.S.
Initially, some viewers and even Rathbun's own family worried that Mahogany might be catfishing him. She had refused to take video calls, which made fans suspicious.
Despite doubts, the couple eventually met in Peru and got married. Rathbun shared on the spinoff 90 Day Diaries in February 2024, 'Our civil ceremony was just brilliant; I could not believe how beautiful it was.' He added, 'But we are still planning on having a religious ceremony.'
Ben and Mahogany confirmed their engagement in a YouTube video in 2022, filmed during Rathbun's trip to Peru. The couple appeared together on 90 Day Diaries and revealed that they had already married months earlier.
Rathbun spoke openly about the challenges they were facing, sharing that they were going through a difficult transition. He mentioned that he had been without a steady job for about six months and that bills had been piling up, making things very tight. He said he was doing everything he could to pay the bills and save for his next trip to Peru. At the time of Rathbun's death, the couple were reportedly still together.
Ben Rathbun's life also included some legal difficulties. In 2020, he was arrested for operating a vehicle while under the influence and driving with a suspended license. He was sentenced to 18 months probation in January 2021. In 2022, Rathbun missed a probation violation hearing, which led to a bench warrant for his arrest. He later turned himself in and spent a night in jail.
In an interview with In Touch, Rathbun said, 'This was my fault because I needed to make sure I was getting all notices, but by the time I found out, it was too late, and I missed my appointment. So a warrant was issued for my arrest. I immediately drove 14 hours and turned myself in to the court and spent a night in jail.'
Ben Rathbun's passing was first reported by the Instagram page shabootydotcom and confirmed by TMZ. His battle with stage 4 stomach cancer lasted several months after his diagnosis at the end of 2024. Despite his illness, Rathbun spent his final moments at home in Greencastle, Indiana, surrounded by his loved ones.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Pink Villa
9 minutes ago
- Pink Villa
BTS' Jimin maintains most popular K-pop idol slot for 197th week with over 18 billion votes, here're Top stars
BTS' Jimin has once again demonstrated the strength of his global fandom. He secured the top spot in the KDOL global K-pop idol popularity poll for the second week of July 2025. From July 7 to July 13, Jimin accumulated nearly 25 million 'hearts,' landing him his 197th weekly win on the platform. This further extends a historic run unmatched by any other artist. Jimin's unshakable KDOL records As of July 19, 2025, Jimin leads KDOL's prestigious Hall of Fame with a total of 18,759,182,200 votes. It's a milestone that reflects the unwavering support from fans worldwide. His lead is not just strong, it's enormous. The artist in second place, fellow BTS member Jin, stands at 12.59 billion votes, while BTS' V follows in third with 4.59 billion. This puts Jimin more than 6 billion votes ahead of his closest competitor, a gap that only seems to grow with time. His achievements aren't limited to weekly rankings. Jimin currently holds Hall of Fame status in 10 categories, making him the most decorated artist on the app. His current records include: Most cumulative votes: 18.75 billion Most #1 daily rankings: 1,286 days Most #1 weekly rankings: 197 weeks Most #1 monthly rankings: 45 months Highest single-day votes: 2.68 billion Highest weekly votes: 2.74 billion Highest monthly votes: 3.06 billion Most birthday votes: 2.68 billion Longest streak at #1 (daily): 61 consecutive days Consecutive days at #1: 1 day These numbers speak not only to Jimin's status as a beloved global star but also to the tireless dedication of his fanbase. His fans consistently show up in large numbers to vote and support him on the platform. What is KDOL? KDOL is a mobile app that tracks and ranks K-pop idols based entirely on fan votes collected in real time. The application is unlike charts that are influenced by sales or media appearances. It provides a platform where international fans can directly support their favorite artists through daily voting. Users from the U.S., South Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, and other parts of the world participate daily, giving the platform a wide global reach. Votes are tallied by the app daily, weekly, and monthly, with totals locked in every day at midnight KST. Top-ranking idols are featured in KDOL's Hall of Fame, making it a key space for tracking fan engagement and global popularity.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Dog The Bounty Hunter's 13-Year-Old Step-Grandson Accidentally Shot Dead By Stepson
American TV personality Duane "Dog the Bounty Hunter" Chapman's 13-year-old step-grandson was accidentally shot and killed over the weekend by his stepson. Gregory Zecca, the son of Mr Chapman's wife, Francie Frane, from a previous marriage, reportedly shot his son, Anthony, in what has been described as a freak accident. The incident occurred Saturday night at Mr Zecca's apartment in Naples, Florida, according to TMZ. Mr Zecca works alongside Mr Chapman on his bounty hunting team and has been part of the family's operations since Mr Chapman and Ms Frane married in 2021. In a statement released through a family representative, Mr Chapman and Ms Frane said, "We are grieving as a family over this incomprehensible, tragic accident and would ask for continued prayers as we grieve the loss of our beloved grandson, Anthony." The family has asked for privacy as they process the loss. Authorities with the Collier County Sheriff's Office responded to a call around 8 pm local time. Officials confirmed an active investigation into what they described as an "isolated incident." No arrests have been made, and identities have not been officially released. Gregory Zecca and his son appeared to share a passion for firearms, with photos on Mr Zecca's social media showing the pair visiting a gun store and shooting range in 2021. Duane Chapman is best known as a bounty hunter, former bail bondsman, and reality TV star who rose to fame after capturing fugitive Andrew Luster in 2003. This high-profile arrest led to his hit series Dog the Bounty Hunter, which aired from 2004 to 2012 and followed Mr Chapman and his family as they tracked down fugitives across the US. He later appeared in spin-off series like Dog and Beth: On the Hunt and Dog's Most Wanted. Over his decades-long career, Mr Chapman claims to have captured more than 10,000 fugitives. He has 13 children from six different women.
Pink Villa
an hour ago
- Pink Villa
Why was G-Dragon's Übermensch concert in Malaysia ‘frustrating'? All about ‘unfair' treatment of local fans and scalping issues
K-pop legend G-Dragon recently held his two-day Übermensch concert in Kuala Lumpur on July 19 and 20. The show marked a major event for fans, especially those in Malaysia who had been eagerly awaiting his comeback. But despite the impressive stage production and G-Dragon's star power, the weekend ended on a bitter note for many local fans. G-Dragon's KL concert faces scalping controversy Even before the concerts began, ticket sales had drawn controversy. It's due to alleged scalping and difficulty for local fans to purchase tickets. Organiser Star Planet attempted to tackle the issue by re-releasing a limited number of tickets. However, the move only stirred fresh concerns when fans noticed unusual patterns at the venue. Once the gates opened, attendees observed numerous empty seats, raising eyebrows given the event was officially sold out. Fans pointed to the possibility that scalpers, unable to resell tickets, had caused these gaps in the audience. Further fuelling suspicion was the sight of many VIP lanyards left untouched at the registration counter. They were still unclaimed even after the show had started. Though those empty spots were eventually filled, many fans believe they were occupied by foreign buyers, not locals. It deepened frustration over how tickets were allocated. G-Dragon's Malay moments fall flat K-pop fans are known to celebrate idols who make the effort to speak in their local language. It's often a highlight of any K-pop show in foreign country. But during G-Dragon 's concert, his attempts to connect with the audience in Malay were met with a noticeably muted response. Some fans speculated that the lack of energy could be because many in attendance didn't understand the language. This possibly points again to the heavy presence of non-local fans in the crowd. For a region known for its loud and passionate fanbase, the subdued atmosphere felt out of place. G-Dragon's team comforts tearful fans outside Malaysia show As is common during sold-out concerts, several fans chose to gather outside the venue to experience the event from afar. However, this time, the scene turned emotional. Viral TikTok videos showed fans chanting and booing, calling on staff to open the doors so they could catch even a glimpse of the show. What made it even more emotional was the reported appearance of G-Dragon 's team. They approached the crowd to collect supportive messages for the artist. Many fans, some in tears, shared heartfelt notes. They expressed both their love for G-Dragon and their sadness at not being able to see him perform live. The clips touched fans across the internet, with many calling out the organisers for not doing more to accommodate local supporters. No response yet from G-Dragon concerts' organisers As of now, Star Planet Malaysia has not released an official statement regarding the allegations and backlash. While G-Dragon's performance was praised for its creativity and stage presence, the overall concert experience left a sour taste for many. Fans now hope that should G-Dragon, or BIGBANG as a full group, return to Malaysia, the event will be better organised.
