The Bachelor

As Gia Allemand was laid to rest in NY today ... her boyfriend NBA star Ryan Anderson not only attended the funeral, but was embraced by Gia's family.

Anderson has been struggling with Gia's suicide -- which occurred after a blowout fight between the two in which Ryan told Gia he didn't love her anymore.

But Anderson mustered up the strength to bid farewell to Gia ... and during the service, he was seen with his arms around Gia's mother.

Some of the Gia's former "Bachelor" co-stars also attended the service -- including Craig Robinson and Graham Bunn.

"Bachelor" contestant Gia Allemand had a fight with her boyfriend hours before she killed herself, and he told her "I don't love you anymore."

Gia had accused NBA basketball player Ryan Anderson of being unfaithful during lunch the day she died. During the ride back to her house -- where they stopped at a Walgreens to get her NyQuil -- Gia told Ryan she still loved him but then he dropped the bombshell about his feelings.

We broke the story ... Gia hanged herself in her New Orleans home. According to official docs -- obtained by TMZ -- Gia used a vacuum cleaner cord to end her life. It was tied to the center section of her spiral staircase and tied to the handrail on the second floor.

It appears Gia was on the phone with her mom when she hanged herself. Her mom told cops during the call the phone "had gone silent" and the mother tried in vain to communicate with her for 10 minutes.

Ryan went back to the house to check on Gia, and found her sitting on the stairs with the cord "wrapped around her neck many times." She had been without oxygen for 30-40 minutes.

Gia left a suicide note on the dining room table and in it left all of her property to her mother.

Some of Gia Allemand's closest friends and co-workers came together at the Mississippi River this weekend to pray for the reality star in an emotional farewell ceremony.

More then 50 people, wearing white ribbons, tossed white flowers into the water to "symbolize that our love and memory of [Gia] will continue to flow in our hearts."

Gia passed away on August 14, two days after she attempted suicide in her New Orleans home.

Allemand will be laid to rest on Thursday following a funeral ceremony at Trinity Grace Church in Chelsea, NY.

Gia Allemand -- the former "Bachelor" contestant who hanged herself this week -- had tweeted about suicide for nearly a year, describing the unbearable pain of being bullied -- something she experienced first hand.

TMZ has poured over Gia's tweets, and we found this:

-- October 11, 2012. Gia re-tweeted, "Words Hurt. Pain Lasts. And suicide last forever." The tweet referenced a 16-year-old Canadian girl -- Amanda Todd -- who hanged herself earlier that year after being bullied.

-- Ocober 13, 2012 Gia tweeted, "BULLYS YOU SUCK RT ... Amanda she committed suicide because of bullying:' ( "

Gia was very sensitive to bullying:

-- October 11, 2011, she tweeted, "As a victim of being bullied most of my life, I'm gonna say that people who can say mean things to other people and put them down are just insecure and depressed with their own life! Glad my momma always told me 'if you don't have something nice to say than don't say it."

NBA star Ryan Anderson is going through HELL right now following the suicide of GF Gia Allemand ... so says his ex-teammate Greivis Vasquez, telling our camera guy, Ryan needs his team more than ever right now.

The Sacramento Kings star knows Ryan from their days on the New Orleans Hornets (now Pelicans) -- and knew Gia very well from the 2 years she and Ryan dated. Of her death he says, "It's really tough. There are no words."

Vasquez says the toll it's taking on Ryan (who found her body) is painful to see. He explains, "It's just hard. I know he's feeling guilty." Adding, "We gotta support him. We gotta be there for him." He goes on.

Gia Allemand turned to the church just one day before her suicide ... paying close attention to the service and even taking notes during the pastor's sermon, TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the former "Bachelor" star tell TMZ ... Gia was a practicing Christian and attended a Sunday service at her local New Orleans church on August 11.

One source close to Gia tells us the reality had been struggling recently ... "She was a Christian, but couldn't be fulfilled. She thought the world expected more from her. She put so much pressure on herself and couldn't see the love around her."

We're told Gia had been venting about her relationship with NBA player Ryan Anderson in the weeks before her death, but Gia's concerns were pretty ordinary for a couple that had been dating for more than 2 years.

Hours before she attempted to take her own life, we're told Gia went about her daily routine as if nothing was wrong ... even teaching a 1:30 pm class at an exercise studio on August 12.

Later that night, Gia's boyfriend discovered the reality star in her home after she had hanged herself. She passed away two days later.

TMZ has obtained the 911 call placed moments after "Bachelor" star Gia Allemand's boyfriend Ryan Anderson found her on Monday, following an apparent suicide attempt -- in which you can hear what sounds like Ryan saying "don't stop" giving CPR.

The audio is choppy, but from what you can hear the dispatcher gives CPR instructions to Ryan. It sounds like Ryan then relays those instructions to someone else -- presumably Gia's mother who was present -- telling her, "Keep going ... don't stop." Ryan sounds calm.

As we reported, Gia's cause of death is suicide. She was hospitalized in New Orleans after Ryan found her in her room, and she was subsequently placed on life support. Gia died on Wednesday.

Ryan -- who plays basketball for the New Orleans Pelicans -- was by Gia's side when she died, along with Gia's mother.

Gia appeared on Season 14 of the reality show. She was 29.

2:13 PM PT -- TMZ has learned Gia hanged herself. Her boyfriend, Ryan, found her hanging and unconscious in her home and immediately called 911.

1:17 PM PT -- TMZ has learned ... the cause of death was suicide. Gia's boyfriend Ryan Anderson found Gia in her house Monday night. We're told Gia was on life support, which was withdrawn today. She had suffered "critical loss of brain and organ function." Her mom, boyfriend and other friends were in the hospital when she died.

1:13 PM PT -- Although we do not know the cause of death yet, we were told by multiple people close to Gia that she had been extremely upset about a rocky relationship with her boyfriend Ryan Anderson.

"Bachelor" star Gia Allemand -- who appeared on Season 14 of the show -- is dead, a family member tells TMZ.

As we reported, the 29-year-old model had been hospitalized in New Orleans since Monday following what her family called a serious emergency medical event. The details surrounding the event are unclear, but it was announced that Allemand had been placed on life support.

Allemand's mother and longtime boyfriend NBA player Ryan Anderson -- of the New Orleans Pelicans -- were at her side when she died.

Season 14 winner Vienna Girardi tells us, "Gia was a beautiful girl and an unbelievable friend. I’m shocked and can’t believe what happened to her. She seemed so happy, but you never know the demons people are fighting inside. I will never forget her and will miss my friend forever."

Allemand's boyfriend, Ryan Anderson, has released a statement ... saying, "I'm deeply grateful for all the love and support we have received from family, friends and fans. Gia was the most beautiful person I knew inside and out and she always smiled and made everyone else around her smile."

He continues, "She had such an amazing impact on my life and anyone that knew her was blessed. All I have left is to cherish those memories we made together and help perpetuate the many values, faith and love that we shared."

With "Bachelor" star Gia Allemand still in critical condition ... the reality star's mother and sister shared an emotional embrace outside the Louisiana hospital where Gia's being treated.

Allemand has been hospitalized since Monday, when she was admitted after suffering what her reps are calling a "serious emergency medical event."

So far, the details surrounding the medical emergency are unclear ... but we do know she was alone when the initial incident occurred and she was taken to the hospital by her mother.

TMZ spoke with her mother yesterday -- who wouldn't reveal much ... only telling us, "Gia is very sick." She also asked for her fans to pray for Gia's health.

Will you accept this pose?

It's obvious what Courtney Robertson has been doing since winning on "The Bachelor" (if that's really possible) and then getting dumped by Ben Flajnik -- working out.

The sexy 29-year-old showed off the amazing body that Ben's missing out on by wearing a pale green bikini on the beach in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

While she didn't get to walk down the aisle with Ben, Courtney will next appear on the wedding gown show "Say Yes to the Dress" ... but it's her sister who is the bride.

With every new season of "Dancing with the Stars" ... a new diva shall emerge amongst the cast ... and this season it's "The Bachelor" Sean Lowe. Sorry ladies.

Sources close to "DWTS" tell TMZ ... ever since filming began, Sean has caught a baaaad case of DIVA-itis ... demanding to be shot from certain camera angles, talking down to crew members, acting like a brat and bragging to other cast members, "This show NEEDS me."

We're told Sean's ego has gotten so big ... he now considers himself a brand and must "market accordingly".

As for other cast members ... we're told they've already started brainstorming nicknames for the reality star in light of his behavior -- like Princess Sean -- but have yet to find just the right one.

We could probably think of a couple.

What do a 'Bachelor' contestant and a Lewis College volleyball player have in common? They both inspired very colorful commentary ... from us. Perhaps unfortunately.

"Bachelor" alum Jake Pavelka has snagged himself a cougar ... in the form of Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth ... and TMZ has the photo of them out on a date near his home in Texas.

The internet was all abuzz earlier this month when Jake and Kristin were seen getting cozy at a diner in West Hollywood. That could have been anything ... but now a TMZ spy caught a glimpse of the new couple (?) in a cafe near Pavelka's home in Highland Village, TX.

As our eagle-eyed witness notes ... they weren't kissing or anything, but they were seen holding hands and "they were veeeerrryy attentive to one another."

A judge says "The Bachelor" doesn't have to cast African-Americans -- so it's time to celebrate ... if you're a Black man. Seriously, who wants to deal with 25 women constantly fighting and bitching?

A judge has THROWN OUT a lawsuit that two black men filed against "The Bachelor" ... in which they claimed they were rejected from the show based on the color of their skin.

In the original suit, the men pointed out that every bachelor in the show's history has been white -- and claim producers intentionally stayed away from people of color because they feared an interracial relationship would alienate the show's "predominantly white viewership."

But a Tennessee judge has officially dismissed the case -- citing the 1st Amendment (Freedom of Speech) ... and explaining that the court cannot tell TV producers ... or movie producers ... or playwrights ... how to cast a production.

In fact, the judge explains that Freedom of Speech is why "The Cosby Show" could have an all-black cast ... why "Jersey Shore" can cast all-Italians ... and why "Shahs of Sunset" can cast all-Persians.

Courtney Robertson is about $80k lighter today -- because "The Bachelor" winner finally returned her diamond engagement ring to its rightful owner ... and photogs caught every glorious moment of it.

Robertson -- who called it quits with "Bachelor" Ben Flajnik last week -- hit up a Neil Lane jewelry store in L.A. Sunday to say sayonara to the 3-carat rock.

We're told the ring ended up back at Neil Lane since "Bachelors" and "Bachelorettes" don't foot the bill for their own marital swag -- i.e. when the relationship goes away, so does the bling.

But Court's not shedding too many tears over the loss (of the ring or Ben) -- considering she was recently seen sucking face with "Bachelorette" cast-off Arie Luyendyk Jr.

Ah, love.