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Jewelry designer Lynn Ban, best known for starring on Netflix‘s Bling Empire: New York, has died after undergoing emergency brain surgery following a near-fatal skiing accident. She was 52.
The New York Post reports Ban was found unresponsive in her Tribeca home at 1:30 p.m. local time on Monday, Jan. 20. Police reportedly did not find the circumstances of her death suspicious.
Her son, Sebastian, announced her death with a statement on social media. “My mum passed away on Monday,” he wrote. “I know she wanted to share her journey after her accident and brain surgery, so I thought she would appreciate one last post sharing the news to people who supported her.”
He added, “Many of you followed my mum but never got the chance to know her or meet her in person. I would like to take the chance to share who my mum really was. She was and always will be my best friend, the best mother to me, and someone who cared for all.”
Ban was an original cast member of the Netflix reality series Bling Empire: New York, which followed a group of wealthy Asian Americans living in New York City. The series was a spin-off of Netflix’s Bling Empire, which premiered in 2021.
Ban’s last social media post from Dec. 30 showed her in the hospital recovering from a craniotomy.
“And in a blink of an eye … life can change,” she wrote. Ban explained that she “face planted” while skiing in Aspen on Christmas Eve. She said she was later cleared by ski patrol, though they suggested she go to the hospital.
“I went in a taxi with Jett [Kain] and within 30 minutes they told us I had a brain bleed and needed to be airlifted to the trauma hospital. Last thing I remember was being intubated and waking up after an emergency craniotomy with Jett by my side,” she recalled, referring to her husband.
“There’s a long road of recovery ahead but I’m a survivor,” she wrote, adding, “Grateful and blessed to see the new year.”
Rihanna, who has worn Ban’s jewelry designs, commented on the social media post announcing her death.
“2025 is rocking me at this point! This is too much!!! Lynn you will always be our fairy godmother! Love you forever and always! Can’t believe I’m writing this in a comment section rn!” she wrote.
Ban’s Bling Empire: New York co-star Dorothy Wang also penned a message to Sebastian in the comments. “Sebastian, we have never met but the way your mom lit up every time she spoke of you – I will never forget. I won’t forget so many wonderful things about your mother.”
Ban is survived by her husband Jett and her son Sebastian.
