Florian Seefried/Getty ImagesEd Hardy designer Christian Audigier has passed away at age 57.
His longtime publicist Michele Elyzabeth told LATF USA, "I just heard the news and I am truly devastated. Christian was an incredibly brilliant man. He will be missed."
Earlier this year, Audigier told TMZ he had been diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), the same rare blood disorder Robin Roberts was diagnosed with in 2012.
Per TMZ, Audigier was undergoing chemotherapy up until he received a bone marrow transplant on March 19.
The French fashion mogul, who was also responsible for the Von Dutch trucker hat phenomenon, reportedly leaves behind an estimated fortune of $250 million.
His designs were worn by countless celebrities, including the likes of Michael Jackson, Britney Spears and Madonna. Former reality star Jon Gosselin also took a liking to Ed Hardy's flashier designs at the peak of his "fame" (around 2009). Don Ed Hardy, who licensed his brand to Audigier, later told the New York Post (via Today), "That Jon Gosselin thing was the nail in the coffin...That's what tanked it."
The brand, as well as others with which Audigier was associated, continued to achieve commercial success despite this perceived public image setback.