A Canadian actor named Saint Von Colucci has reportedly died after a series of costly cosmetic surgeries to resemble BTS singer Jimin.
The 22-year-old actor was apparently set to play the musician in a forthcoming series for a US-based streaming platform.
MailOnline reports the actor’s publicist saying he had died after suffering a complication from one of the surgeries.
Reports of Colucci’s death have circulated on Korean media sites following the report in the Mail, though the actor’s lack of social media presence and unknown profile have led to confusion, and claims of a possible AI-generated hoax.
The Independent has been unable to contact his publicist or representative.
Per the report, on Saturday night (22 April), the actor had surgery at a South Korean hospital to remove jaw implants that he had had inserted in November at considerable risk.
Colucci is said to have developed an infection from the implants, and was intubated before dying.
“It’s very tragic and very unfortunate,” publicist Eric Blake told the outlet.
Among the other surgeries reportedly Colucci underwent were a face lift, a nose job, eye and eyebrow lifts, and a lip reduction.
The outlet reports that the cumulative cost of the 12 surgeries Colucci underwent was $220,000 (£176,000).
“He was very insecure about his looks,” Blake said. “He had a very square jawline and chin and he didn’t like the shape of it because he thought it was too wide an wanted a V-shape, the shape many Asians have.”
According to his publicist, Colucci had been informed of the risks of jaw implants, but had elected to have the surgery anyway.
Colucci is said to have moved to South Korea from Canada in 2019 to pursue a career in the music industry.
Last year, he was reportedly cast in Korean drama series Pretty Lies (Cogimar), which filmed from June until December and is set to be released on a US streaming service later this year.
