Lynn Ban, “Bling Empire: New York ”star and jewelry designer, dies at 52 following ski accident

Lynn Ban, a celebrated jewelry designer who starred on Netflix's Bling Empire: New York, has died, just weeks after undergoing emergency brain surgery following a skiing accident. She was 52.  

Her son, Sebastian, confirmed the news in an Instagram post published on Ban's account on Tuesday. "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."

In his statement, Sebastian explained that he wanted to provide a glimpse into "who my mom really was" to her followers. "She was and always will be my best friend, the best mother to me, and someone who cared for all," he wrote. "She always had a smile on her face, even when times were tough during her recovery process. She was a fighter until the end and is the strongest woman I know."

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He continued, "She was the funniest and coolest mum I could ever ask for. She took care of me, my dad, and our entire family throughout her whole life. Although she may be gone now, I will do everything I can to make sure she is never forgotten and for her life to be celebrated as it deserves to be. As a final message to my mum, I would just like to say that I will miss you forever, and to end in something she always told me, 'I love you more than life itself, mum.'"

In a Dec. 30 Instagram post, Ban revealed that she had undergone emergency brain surgery after falling while skiing with her family in Aspen, Colo., on Christmas Eve. "At the top of the mountain I caught a tip and face-planted," she wrote. "Luckily I always wear a helmet. It didn't seem that bad at the time, and I was able to ski to the bottom."

While she was initially cleared by ski patrol for concussion symptoms, Ban said a paramedic recommended that she visit the hospital and get a CAT scan after she began to have a headache. "This saved my life. I went in a taxi with Jett [Kain, her husband] and within 30 minutes they told us I had a brain bleed and needed to be airlifted to the trauma hospital," she wrote. "Last thing I remember was being intubated and waking up after an emergency craniotomy with Jett by my side."

Along with her post, Ban shared a collection of photos of her in the hospital with her head half-shaved, revealing her surgical staples and a tube coming out of her skull.

Ban starred on the first season of Netflix's Bling Empire spinoff, Bling Empire: New York, which spotlighted the luxurious lives of a group of wealthy Asian Americans residing in the Big Apple. In addition to appearing on the reality series, Ban was the owner of Lynn Ban Jewelry, and her designs have been worn by celebrities like Rihanna and Beyoncé.

Following her son's post, several of Ban's followers took to the comment section to pay their respects, including Rihanna. "2025 is rocking me at this point! This is too much!!! Lynn, you will always be our fairy godmother!" she wrote. "Love you forever and always! Can't believe I'm writing this in a comment section rn! Thank you for all the joy you brought to us!"

Her Bling Empire costars Dorothy Wang and Christine Chiu also remembered Ban, with Chiu calling her "an extraordinary human."

Writing to Sebastian, Wang added, "I won't forget so many wonderful things about your mother. She was a true badass yet the kindest ray of light at the same time. Yes, she loved her fashion and her looks, but what truly mattered most to her was always you and your father, her tribe. We are all heartbroken."

Ban is survived by her son, Sebastian, and her husband, Jett.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly