Ash Armand, once a star on Showtime’s racy reality show Gigolos, has been behind bars for a long time — a far cry from his TV fame. A March 2025 article in PEOPLE Magazine takes another look at his story, showing how the spotlight can have a dark side and how personal struggles can knock a celebrity off course. It was titled:
“A Reality TV Star ‘Lost His Mind’ and Beat His Friend to Death. What to Know About Ash Armand’s Case — and Where He Is Now Nearly 5 Years Later.”
Armand, whose real name is Akshaya Kubiak, caught viewers’ eyes with his mystical and spiritual vibe on the show, which gave a peek into the world of male escorts in Las Vegas. But his time in the limelight took a terrible turn in July 2020 when something went wrong with his friend Harleen Dulai, leading to her death.
The night’s events, as people tell it, involved mind-altering drugs and turned into a mess of violence. This led to Dulai losing her life and the police putting Armand in handcuffs. The legal proceedings that followed were closely watched.
In 2022, Ash Armand decided to plead guilty to charges of voluntary manslaughter and mayhem. The judge handed down a sentence of 8 to 20 years in prison, which he is currently serving. While the story didn’t stay in the news spotlight, it has popped up again, grabbing people’s interest once more.
Ash Armand’s case resurfaces as 50 Cent reacts to name mentioned in Diddy’s trial
The fresh wave of attention didn’t just stem from PEOPLE Magazine’s in-depth coverage, but also from celebrities speaking up. Rapper 50 Cent, famous for his candid social media posts, put the article on Instagram, describing the events as movie-like. His comment brought a new angle to the conversation, tying Ash Armand’s situation — albeit loosely — to wider themes in pop culture and ongoing court cases involving other stars.
“This sh*t is a movie, one of the sex workers caught a body @50centaction,” the post was captioned.
50 Cent probably mentioned the case because Ash Armand’s name came up during Diddy’s trial.
Despite the ongoing chatter and speculation online, the facts stand: Armand continues to serve his time, and officials haven’t announced any parole decisions. This tale serves as a stark warning about how life can turn from fame to disgrace, and how drug use, unhealed wounds, or the stress of being in the spotlight can lead to choices you can’t take back.
The case has sparked talks about mental health, responsibility, and the ethics of reality TV. People are wondering if these shows make dangerous lifestyles look cool, and if they do enough to help participants once filming ends. Critics and experts are taking a hard look at these issues.
Ash Armand’s story now exists in two starkly different chapters: one where he was admired as an intriguing TV personality, and another where he is known as a convict serving time for a violent offense.