Anna Shay remembered: Bling Empire cast members pay tribute – Kane Lim, Mimi Morris, Kevin Kreider and Kim Lee spoke to Style following the late millionaire heiress’ unexpected death at 62

Jun 7 , 2023

Anna Shay, an heiress, philanthropist and breakout star of the Netflix reality series Bling Empire, just died from a stroke. Photo: @annashay93/Instagram

Anna Shay – heiress, philanthropist and breakout star of Netflix reality series Bling Empire – died from a stroke at 62, according to a family statement on Monday

Former cast members reflect on her passing to Style, including Kane Lim (‘She loved being able to give to people’) and Mimi Morris (‘She was a real person … Rest in peace, Anna’)

Hours after it was announced that Netflix’s Bling Empire star Anna Shay had passed away at 62, on June 5, her former cast members were reeling from the shock of sudden loss.

“We had so many great memories together that I will cherish,” Kane Lim told Style in an exclusive interview. “We had a wonderful, genuine friendship that continued off camera as well. She was one of the few people during the pandemic that I hung out with a lot; we went shopping and had so much fun. And when we were shooting the show, we would always keep each other laughing. I’ll always keep that dearly in my heart.”

Anna Shay in a scene from Netflix series Bling Empire. Photo: AP

Lim, who owns the socially responsible lifestyle brand Because Life is Not Guaranteed (B. L. I. N. G.), said he loved how he and Shay bonded over “similar values”, commenting on how generous she was. “Money never impressed us, we cared more about the person’s character and heart,” he shared. “She loved being able to give to people. When we would go out, she would always make sure to order extra food for her workers.”

“We weren’t friends before the show, we just shot this together and after filming we became such good pals. I treat her like family now. My parents are so happy that I found someone like her in my life,” Lim added. “She’s a person who wants nothing from you and obviously doesn’t have any bad intentions.”

Anna Shay with photographer friend Yang Wang. Photo: @annashay93/Instagram

On his social media post commemorating his friend, Lim wrote: “You will be missed @annashay93 rest in peace. You had a nonchalance about you that was mesmerising and captivated audiences around the world. I was lucky to get to know the real you and not many knew about our friendship off camera.

We had a real friendship and though the show [ …] portrayed us a little crazy at times, you knew who I really was as a person and had my back in the end. We spent most of the pandemic together, slaying it on Rodeo Dr, grocery shopping, making Japanese plum wine and doing silly things. Thank you for your company. I will always remember you for your tenacity for life and resilience and whether the camera is on or off you, you slayyyy. Continue to slay in the heavens. Love Kane.”

Bling Empire cast member Mimi Morris with her husband Don Morris. Photo: @mimi_morris_/Instagram

Fellow cast member Mimi Morris also addressed the sad news on her Instagram: “Our hearts still ache in sadness. The Bling Empire family lost such an amazing friend. Anna you will missed dearly, may you rest in heaven.”

Along with her husband, Don Morris, Mimi explained to Style why the news was so difficult to comprehend. “Anna had a good sense of the world,” Morris noted. “She was not afraid to speak her mind. I admired her; she was a real person. She understood that money was not the most important thing in life. Sorry she had such a short stay on this Earth. Rest in peace, Anna.”