What Is Transgender 'Big Brother' Star Rebekah Shelton's Cause Of Death?

UPDATE: Jan. 12, 2018 9:52 a.m. EST - Rebekah Shelton posted a video of herself Friday morning dispelling rumors that she died.

"I'm not dead!" she wrote in a tweet. "Please stop spreading this news! My lawyer is already working on this and this person who wants to spoil my happiness is going to pay for it!"

In a video posted alongside the tweet, she asked people to stop spreading rumors about her death.

"I've been through hell today because someone used my Twitter account to write that stupid status about me," she said. "This person can't accept the fact that I'm happy, that I overcame all my problems and that I'm finally living my life happy. I'm on holiday, I'm in Arabia and I'm not dead."

Original story:

The transgender "Big Brother" star Rebekah Shelton, who appeared on the show as Rodrigo Lopes in 2009, died Wednesday night at the age of 32.

"We're sorry to inform everyone of the sad news that our wonderful and lovely Rebekah died unexpectedly on Wednesday night," a tweet from her personal account read. "We ask that you respect the family's privacy at this time."

While the tweet said that Shelton died "unexpectedly," the cause of death was not revealed. It was also unclear if the death was a result of health troubles.

The official Twitter page of "Big Brother" paid tribute to the former housemate: "So sad to hear that Rebekah Shelton, who appeared in #BBUK 2009 as Rodrigo Lopes, has passed away aged just 32. Our thoughts are with her friends and family, from everyone here at Big Brother UK."

Brazil-born Shelton was popular on the show for her brief romance with fellow housemate Charlie Drummond. She also briefly starred in an episode of "Hollyoaks."

The reality TV star began to live as a woman in 2012, after successfully transitioning.

Announcing her happy news, she said at the time: "I’ve had my sex change in Rio with Dr Marcio Littleton," and went on to share images of her new body.

In 2015, Shelton told OK! Magazine that it was the "hardest decision ever" to go through with the surgery to transition into a woman.

"I've had to fight for acceptance. I was not born wanting to be a transsexual, or a boy, or a straight boy, or a girl," she explained. "I think my appearance on the show [Big Brother] helped me to get to know myself better.

"It gave me the acceptance I had been looking for my entire life - I started dressing like the girls, and I felt like I was getting to know myself better with every new piece of clothing," she added.

Tributes poured in after the news of Shelton's death was revealed.