Kelly Osbourne has paid tribute to her close friend Jasen Kaplan after the make-up artist and reality star died aged 46.
After being hired to work for mother-and-daughter socialite duo Brittny and Lisa Gastineau for their 2005 E! reality series The Gastineau Girls, Kaplan went on to work with a string of stars including Kelly, Eva Longoria, Lynda Carter and Cyndi Lauper.
He also appeared in the first season of the reality dating series Finding Prince Charming, which was hosted by NSYNC’s Lance Bass, in 2016 – but was eliminated in the second week.
News of his death was broken by Page Six, who said he died in hospital in New York City on New Year’s Eve.
‘He was a great artist, and a sweet guy. When people started working with him, they often stayed with him for years,’ a long-time friend told the publication.
‘He really was important to a lot of people…some of his clients had been with him more than 20 years. They’re going to take it very hard,’ another added.
The New York Police Department have said they are investigating his death, with the cause of death to be determined by the chief medical examiner.
Soon after Kaplan’s death was announced, Kelly shared a series of posts on social media paying tribute to him.
‘I’m devastated. I love you so much,’ she wrote over a collage of photos she’d taken with Kaplan over the years.
‘Thank you for all the love, laughter, and joy you brought to my life. I hope you are at peace now. Life will never be the same without you! RIP, my dear friend!’ she added.
Kelly went on to share another five stories documenting her friendship with Kaplan, adding that she would ‘forever miss our late-night FaceTimes’.
‘You were the best wingman a girl could ask for. 25 years of friendship, and every second was worth it,’ she shared.
The reality star – whose dad Ozzy Osbourne died in July last year – also shared a video of Kaplan dressed as her and said ‘no-one was as funny’ as him.
She also promised to make sure the make-up artists beloved dog Coco was ‘always looked after’.
Throughout the past two decades, Kaplan had been working with a strong of high-profile celebrity clients, including The Real Housewives of New York City star Bethenny Frankel.
In her tribute to him – she shared a series of photos and videos taken over the years and said he ‘had a positive energy that was truly infectious’. ‘He was fun, vibrant, and always brought his A game,’ she wrote.
‘The world lost a one-of-a-kind gem on New Year’s Eve, which still doesn’t feel real,’ she added, while also reflecting on his ‘generous’ personality and how he had ‘a genuine interest in everyone around him.’
She went on to share that Kaplan ‘made people feel seen, celebrated, and better about themselves’.
Bethenny also said he’d been more than a make-up artist, but also her ‘friend and a constant part of my team’.
‘He always showed up and cheered me on – in life, work, and online. He’s seen me in every form, from fixing broken zippers to making me feel like a supermodel. If you were around him, you were happier. He always had a story.’
She concluded her post by writing: ‘Rest in peace and enjoy all the caviar and coconut cake.’
Kaplan is now the second star from Finding Prince Charming to die within the past month.
In early December, news broke that former contestant Chad Spodick had died by suicide aged 42.
The news of his ‘sudden and heartbreaking’ death was confirmed in a GoFundMe post created by a friend.
‘Our hearts are shattered as we share the devastating news of the loss of our beautiful, kind, and generous son, brother and friend Chad,’ the page read.
‘We are still struggling to comprehend a world without his light.
‘Chad was the type of person who poured himself into others. He lifted up his friends, encouraged everyone around him to grow, to advocate for themselves, and to believe in their own worth. His love for animals was unmatched — he cared deeply for every creature, especially his four beloved dogs and his bird, Cosmo. The world was brighter with Chad in it, and those who were lucky enough to know him felt the warmth of his heart every day.’
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