American blogger Heather Armstrong dies at 47 (image via Instagram/@dooce)
Early 2000s blogger, Heather Armstrong a.k.a. Dooce, best known for detailing the ups and downs of motherhood, died on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at the age of 47. The news was confirmed by her partner, Pete Ashdown, in an Instagram post shared on Heather's profile @dooce.
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In a statement given to Associated Press, Pete explained she died by suicide after an alcohol relapse. He found the "queen of mommy blogging" in their Salt Lake City home. He stated:
"She had a relapse recently and that’s what really spiraled her down. She was sober for over 18 months, then started to sneak back into it. And then in the last month, she went full tilt."
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Heather Armstrong's started blogging under the pen name Dooce, which came from her frequently misspelling the word "dude" in online chats. Early topics included her discussing leaving the Mormon Church and her work, which led to her being fired from her job as a web designer in 2002.
Fans of her blog used the word dooced to describe anyone getting fired for something they have written on their blog.
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In 2004 she was expecting her first child with her ex-husband Jon Armstrong, which shifted the focus of her blog to parenting and marriage. Her witty, and earnest writing coupled with honest details about motherhood earned her instant success.
By 2017, the mommy blogger started writing about her struggles with mental health, alcoholism, and post-partum depression. She once wrote:
"Early sobriety resembles living life as a clam without its shell."
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At its peak, Heather's blog reached over eight million views a month and garnered $40,000 in advertisements. Armstrong appeared as a guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show and in 2009 was named one of the most influential women in media by Forbes. Additionally, she has penned three books.
"This is shattering": Internet mourns the death of Heather Armstrong
As news of Heather Armstrong's demise spread, netizens were left heartbroken. They were quick to express their condolences to her grieving family. Many called her kind, inspirational, and a gifted writer:
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A comment paying tribute to Heather (Image via Instagram /@wednesdaychef)A comment paying tribute to Heather (Image via Instagram /@thebloggess)A comment paying tribute to Heather (Image via Instagram /@thepioneerwoman)A comment paying tribute to Heather (Image via Instagram /@teachermisery)A comment paying tribute to Heather (Image via Instagram /@askatewouldhaveit)A comment paying tribute to Heather (Image via Instagram /@greeblehaus)A comment paying tribute to Heather (Image via Instagram /@itsmollypants)A comment paying tribute to Heather (Image via Instagram /@cpt_13)A comment paying tribute to Heather (Image via Instagram /@edarcydesign)A comment paying tribute to Heather (Image via Instagram /@blueberryfluffymuffin)A comment paying tribute to Heather (Image via Instagram /@mega_liz)A comment paying tribute to Heather (Image via Instagram /@miafreedman)A comment paying tribute to Heather (Image via Instagram /@yourpalmal)A comment paying tribute to Heather (Image via Instagram /@kustoo)
Heather Armstrong is survived by her children Leta (19) and Marlo (13).
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About the author
Nirali Sheth
Nirali has been a popular culture writer at Sportskeeda for the past 1.5 years, covering celebrity/influencer trends and profile/histories, political news, crime reports, and lifestyle. She completed her Bachelor's in Architecture from University of Mumbai and Masters in Heritage Conservation from University of Southern California. Professionally, Nirali has a strong 7.5-year experience working as an architect, an Assistant Archivist and a Digital Archivist across three companies.
Nirali’s educational qualifications and unique career trajectory put great emphasis on research and writing, which along with her personal interest in popular culture, led her to the current role at Sportskeeda. Her specialties are researching histories, crime stories, and developing general knowledge pieces.
The most crucial step in Nirali’s reporting is rigorous fact-checking, and she relies on information from primary sources only for her news. In the absence of a primary source, Nirali double, and even triple-checks information from multiple sources before presenting them to her readers. Strictly anti-AI, she believes in giving credits wherever necessary.
Nirali’s favorite celebrities are Mark Ruffalo and Dolly Parton, and she admires them for their support of humanity and advocacy for what is right. An avid reader, Nirali can be found nose-deep in a new book when she is away from her keyboard. Nirali also loves to illustrate in her free time.
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