Jerry Springer Show is sued by family of a man who killed himself two weeks after being 'ambushed' on the show by his fiancée, who said she had been unfaithful with his good friend, didn't want to marry him, AND had sold his engagement ring
- Blake Alvey appeared on the show with his fiancée Cassie Rutter in May 2018
- The show also brought out his friend and they fought before being separated
- Just two weeks after Alvey's episode aired, the new father committed suicide
- Family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Springer and the network
- Claim Alvey killed himself 'as a result of severe emotional and mental suffering and anguish' and accuses Springer of 'reckless disregard for the lives of others'
The Jerry Springer Show is being sued by the family of a man who committed suicide shortly after appearing on an episode of the controversial show.
The family of Blake Alvey said he was ambushed on the NBC series when he was confronted by his fiancée Cassie Rutter.
Rutter told Alvey that she had been unfaithful with his good friend, no longer wanted to marry him, and had sold the engagement ring he had given her.
The Jerry Springer Show has been sued by the family of Blake Alvey, who they claim committed suicide after he appeared on the show with his fiancée Cassie Rutter
During the show, Rutter told Alvey that she had been unfaithful with his friend, no longer wanted to marry him, and had sold the engagement ring he had given her
The show filmed on May 8, 2018 and aired on May 24, 2018. On June 3, 2018, Alvey took his own life.
A description for the episode, titled 'Gay Phase...Over', reveals that 'Cassie has moved on - to her boyfriend's good friend'.
'I don't want to get married,' Rutter tells Alvey in the trailer of the episode. 'And there's someone else.'
Alvey's friend then confronts him during the episode and they briefly fight before being separated, in usual Jerry Springer fashion.
Alvey's good friend (pictured) then confronts him during the episode in front of the audience
The men briefly fight before they are separated, in the usual Jerry Springer fashion
Alvey's family have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Jerry Springer and NBC, claiming the show knew it would 'elicit an extreme reaction' from Alvey.
The suit, obtained by WDRB, claims that Alvey, who left behind a newborn son, killed himself 'as a result of severe emotional and mental suffering and anguish'.
It accuses the Jerry Springer show of 'reckless disregard for the lives and safety of others'. Rutter has also been named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
'The Jerry Springer Show was designed to humiliate and exploit people like Blake, [disregarding] the devastating consequences that their conduct can have on people's lives,' Brenton Stanley, Alvey's family attorney, said in a statement.
'We will fight to hold them accountable,' he added.
The lawsuit, which was filed in Jefferson Circuit Court last week, is requesting unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
The show filmed on May 8, 2018 and aired on May 24, 2018. On June 3, Alvey took his own life. Rutter has also been named a defendant in the wrongful death lawsuit
Alvey and Rutter got engaged on April 20, just weeks before they appeared on the show
Alvey, of Louisville, Kentucky, posted a tribute to Rutter on his Facebook less than a month before he appeared on the show.
'Cassie Rutter I love you with all my heart I swear to god I do...your my baby girl despite all your flaws your still #1 to me you (sic)'.
The caption appeared alongside a picture that read: 'The couples that are meant to be are the ones who go through everything that is meant to tear them apart, and come out even stronger than they were before.'
Less than three months before he died, Alvey posted two foreshadowing posts about problems with friends.
One was a meme that read: 'PSA to All Guys: DO NOT choose your boys over your gf because when you break up its your "boys" who be in her DM like "he dumb, you don't deserve that.'"
Alvey, of Louisville, Kentucky, posted a tribute to Rutter on his Facebook less than a month before he appeared on the show
Alvey's Facebook still states that he is engaged. His bio reads: 'Cassie Ann is the woman of my dreams 5evaa'
In her own bio, Cassie continues to pay tribute to Alvey with the words '#Rip Blake'
Another was Alvey's own post, which read: 'God, I can handle my enemies just protect me from my friends.'
Alvey's Facebook still states that he is engaged. His bio reads: 'Cassie Ann is the woman of my dreams 5evaa.'
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In her own bio, Cassie pays tribute to Alvey with the words '#Rip Blake'.
DailyMail.com has reached out to The Jerry Springer Show for comment.
For confidential help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or click here.
For confidential support on suicide matters in the UK, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here.
For confidential support in Australia, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or click here.
