Entertainment
Tragic loss: Famous mom blogger Heather Armstrong's shocking demise at the age of 47
Mommy blogger icon, Heather Armstrong, known for her raw accounts of motherhood, depression, and alcoholism on Dooce.com and social media, dies at 47
May 11, 2023 11:54am
Updated: May 11, 2023 1:28pm
Heather Armstrong, the mom blogger who shared her struggles battling depression and alcoholism as a mother on her website Dooce.com, passed away at only 47 years old.
Her partner of six years, former U.S. Senate candidate Pete Ashdown, released a statement after finding her lifeless body, Tuesday night at their home in Salt Lake City, Utah.
According to Ashdown, authorities suspect Armstrong died by suicide. Despite working on her sobriety for over 18 months, the blogger may have experienced a relapse that led her to make this decision.
The couple lived together with Armstrong's children, 19-year-old Leta and 13-year-old Marlo, whom she had with her ex-husband and business partner Jon Armstrong, whom she divorced in 2012. Additionally, Ashdown's three children from a previous marriage would often visit the family at their Utah home.
Heather created her website Dooce in 2001, becoming a social media sensation with her advice on motherhood, relationships, and other life battles. In 2009, with a thriving career, Armstrong published her autobiography "The Valedictorian of Being Dead: The True Story of Dying Ten Times to Live," even appearing on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," one of America's most popular talk shows.
Her success led Armstrong to be included in Forbes' list of the most influential women in media, earning her the title of "The Queen of Mom Bloggers" by The New York Times Magazine. Despite capturing the hearts of thousands of readers, her career was also marked by controversy, facing accusations of spoiling her children.
The criticism began when Armstrong wrote against her boss, the owner of an emerging tech company whom she wanted to "strangle," ultimately costing her job.
Unleashing chaos on social media, the blogger continued to delve into topics such as her first marriage, life in Los Angeles, motherhood, and alcoholism, delving into her deepest emotions with honesty as her guiding principle.
