Deciem Founder Brandon Truaxe Is Dead at 40

Brandon Truaxe, the beauty mogul behind Deciem, has died at age 40, according to an internal email from Nicola Kilner, Deciem's acting CEO.

"I can't believe I am typing these words. Brandon has passed away over the weekend," said Kilner, in an email to employees obtained by Vox. "Heartbroken doesn't come close to how I, and how I know many of you will be feeling. All offices, warehouses, factories and stores please close today and take the time to cry with sadness, smile at the good times we had, reflect on what his genius built and hug your loved ones that little harder."

Truaxe built Deciem into a beauty giant, thanks in large part to one of its brands, accessible luxury skincare line The Ordinary. But Truaxe began exhibiting "extremely erratic, disturbing and offensive behavior," including posting increasingly distressing messages on the company's Instagram account and alleging that Deciem should be shuttered due to "financial crimes." Truaxe's behavior led Estee Lauder (which holds a one third stake in the company) to bring a lawsuit to court ordering him removed as CEO last fall. Truaxe allegedly sent a number of potentially threatening emails to Estee Lauder executives after his removal and was issued a restraining order.

In December, Canada's Financial Post published an interview with Truaxe revealing that he'd once been hospitalized following a psychotic break, which his lawyer argued was triggered by psychedelic mushrooms and crystal meth.

In the days leading up to his death, Truaxe posted a number of videos to his Instagram page in which he shared his home address and said he was drunk and "seeing things."

The cause of Truaxe's death has not been reported.