The reality star, 45, urged others to “never suffer in silence” as she mourned her longtime costar.
Brandi Passante in 2013 (left); Darrell Sheets in 2012 (right).
Brandi Passante is speaking out following the death of her former Storage Wars costar Darrell Sheets.
In an emotional Instagram post shared hours after the news broke on Wednesday, April 22, Passante, 45, said she was “at a loss for words” as she mourned Sheets, who died by an apparent suicide at age 67.
“I’ve known Darrell Sheets for many years,” she wrote. “I’m just so very sorry, to hear the circumstances of his passing. My heart hurts for Brandon, Zoe, and Kimber.”
Passante went on to reflect on her own personal experience with loss, revealing that she has “unfortunately lost a parent and a brother to similar situations,” before using her platform to urge others to seek help.
Brandi Passante and Darrell Sheets.
“I would like to say to everyone, if you are struggling, if you feel hopeless or like no one cares. I assure you they do!! You are not alone. Please reach out for help,” she continued. “You are not taking your pain away, you are transferring it to someone else. The grief from suicide is endless. There is always help… You can dial 988 on your phone to connect with a counselor and resources. Never suffer in silence!”
Alongside her message, Passante shared a smiling throwback selfie of herself with Sheets, with the late reality star pointing toward Passante as the two posed side by side.
Other photos in her slideshow included a snap of them filming together in front of a storage unit and another one of them on a talk show set.
Her tribute comes shortly after fellow Storage Wars star René Nezhoda also reacted publicly to Sheets’ death.
In an Instagram video, Nezhoda clarified that while the two often clashed on screen, their rivalry didn’t reflect their real-life relationship.
“This was not an easy video to shoot. Unfortunately, Darrell Sheets took his own life. So he passed away,” Nezhoda said. “I know a lot of you guys think we hated each other because we competed a lot on the show… but deep down me and Darrell were friends.”
Nezhoda described Sheets as “a very hard worker” who deeply cared about his family, including his son Brandon and granddaughter Zoe, and alleged that the late star had been dealing with cyberbullying prior to his death.
“Guys, just because you watch us on television, doesn’t mean you know us,” he added. “It doesn’t entitle you to bully somebody.”
Officers responded to “a reported deceased individual” around 2 a.m. local time on April 22, the Lake Havasu City Police Department said in a press release. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The man was later identified as Sheets, a 67-year-old resident of Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Sheets rose to fame on A&E’s Storage Wars, in which he was known as “The Gambler” for his high-risk, high-reward bidding style. He frequently appeared alongside his son Brandon and became a fan favorite over the years.
“We are saddened by the passing of a beloved member of our Storage Wars family, Darrell ‘The Gambler’ Sheets. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time,” an A&E spokesperson told PEOPLE.
Darrell Sheets and Brandi Passante with Rachael Ray.
Sheets retired from the series in 2023 and later opened an antique shop in Arizona called Havasu Show Me Your Junk.
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