The Real World: San Diego’s Frankie Abernathy Dies
Frankie Abernathy, a cast member on The Real World: San Diego, died Saturday at her mother’s home in Shorewood, Wis. She was 25.
While no official cause of death has been determined, Abernathy had waged a lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis, a chronic lung disease.
Her death “was very sudden,” her mother, Abbie Hunter, told MTV News. “It still was kind of a shock, and it just wasn’t how we figured things would go. It seems like her little body just gave out.”
During her 2004 stint on the MTV reality show, Abernathy struggled with the hereditary disease, which causes mucus buildup in the throat and digestive track.
A free-spirited punk-rock lover, Abernathy once said during her time in the Real World house: “Tomorrow is a privilege, so live today like tomorrow isn’t happening.”
Abernathy left the house early – she had problems with her roommates and missed her boyfriend. While on the show, she also intentionally cut herself with a kitchen knife. Her mother said her behavior helped raise awareness about cutting.
“I think she touched a lot of people and made an impact on a lot of people’s lives,” Hunter told MTV. “That’s what you want when you have a child – you hope they do that. I wish it had been in a different way, but I am proud of her.”
June 12th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Poor Frankie! She had such BEAUTIFUL red hair…She really was SICK
May she rest in peace with the angels.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:29 am
she was awesome. was the only reason i watched that season. it really sucks that she died.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:43 am
WOW!! I remember that season of the Real World was the only one I actually followed. I feel guilty because I thought she was a whiny faker looking for attention.
It seemed she carried a lot of anger and resentment during that show (or at least that is how MTV portrayed her). I hope she found peace. RIP Frankie!!
June 13th, 2007 at 11:55 am
That’s too bad. I liked her.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
***tears***
June 13th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Maybe she shouldn’t have been smoking with cystic fibrosis.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Really sad news. Rest in peace, Frankie.
xo
June 13th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
she was annoying
June 13th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
whether you smoke or not, cystic fibrosis is not a disease you live a long life with. but of course - someone has to be the snarky douchebag, so it might as well be you, right hiyo?
RIP frankie - i really dug her.
June 13th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
May she R.I.P, I saw that season and I remember her being so down all the time. she was not faken it that’s for sure.
June 13th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
RIP Frankie!!!!!
June 13th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
So sad. Thankfully now she can go home and get some rest.
June 13th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
That’s too bad! She was more “real” than most of the cast members.
RIP Frankie!! You will be missed!
June 13th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
She was the only member that wasnt a bitch that season. I hated Cameron & Robin. Everyone on the whow always acted like Frankie was faking. I hope they feel like the shit that they are when they hear about her death.
RIP
June 15th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
Frankie was sooo beautiful and so young. She will be Missed Terribly!!! I hope that her castmates from the show can say some good words about her and MTV should show the re-runs from that season so we can remember the way she was.
July 11th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
How many people from REAL WORLD are dead now? I only know of 2. Frankie and the guy with Aids, I can remember his name
July 21st, 2007 at 11:01 am
His name was pedro. I hope Mtv has a marathon of the season frankie was on. Her castmates always acted like she was faking, I hope they feel horrible.
November 4th, 2007 at 10:01 am
Michelle Parma from Road Rules Europe (1997)
October 19, 2002: Michelle Parma (27), a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader and a cast member of MTV’s Road Rules television show, was killed in a car accident.