The Bravo community is mourning the loss of one of their own.
Matthew Byars, a talent manager who appeared on “The Real Housewives of Potomac,” has died at age 37, People reports.
A cause of his death have not been confirmed.
Byars first appeared during Season 3 in 2018 alongside Karen Huger, who told Bravo’s The Daily Dish at the time that they “work together.”
Huger, 61, called him a “powerful young man,” adding that “Matt is not my PR, but I would say that Matt is in a line of my agent, my booking person, and it works for me.”
After news of his death broke on Thursday, many stars across Bravoverse paid their respects.
“Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Melissa Gorga shared a montage of pictures to Instagram alongside Byars, stating she is “heartbroken” by the news.
“Your personality was infectious. Your jokes – you always had them. You should have done stand up- I know it was your dream. My heart hurts Matt,” the 45-year-old wrote.
“They don’t make them like us. I wish I could have saved you. Thank you for the memories,” continued Gorga. “Go fly- Go make them laugh.”
“Real Housewives of Potomac” alum Charrisse Jackson-Jordan, meanwhile, posted a photograph of herself with Byars to her Instagram Stories, writing, “Rest In Peace.”
“The Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Cynthia Bailey echoed Gorga’s sentiments on her own Instagram page.
“So deeply saddened by the news of my longtime friend passing yesterday,” she wrote. “Thank you Matt for all the beautiful memories. Way too many to share. I will never forget the laughter [and] love we shared. I will miss you my friend. Stay in the light. I love you. Sending my most heartfelt condolences to the family [and] friends. Just know that he was so loved by many.”
“I’m sure many of you have heard about the unfortunate news that Matt Byars has passed away,” RHOP’s Ashley Darby said in a tearful Instagram Story Friday. “If you can, please reach out to Karen Huger. She and Matt were very close. I think Karen’s known Matt, I want to say, since either middle school or high school.”
“So, it’s been a very long time, and it is very important that we check on our friends. Everyone is going through something, and I acknowledge that. And sometimes it’s just too much to bear, unfortunately, for some of us.”
Although Huger has yet to speak out publicly about Byar’s passing, she did reflect on their relationship in her 2019 interview with Bravo’s The Daily Dish. At the time, she said she knew him “since he was about 17, 18 years old.”
“I encourage Matt when life is difficult. A lot of people call me ‘Mama Karen’ in Potomac because I love helping young folk,” Huger told the outlet. “When life was trying to him, I reached out and told him to go to school, and he did, and now we work together.”
The reality star also shed light onto how well Byars got along with other housewives, explaining, “He’s with everyone! And I love that. He’s a bubbly person and, again, a very successful young man and powerfully connected. I don’t mess with peons.”
“Matt’s a good guy and us together, two powerhouses together, we make great things happen off-screen, in family and personal life, and we also make things happen fantastic on-screen, as you noticed. We’re good.”
