Nicole Richie's ex-fiance found dead

DJ AM dies of overdose in New York

Nicole Richie's former fiancé, DJ AM, has been found dead in New York City.

The popular club host – real name Adam Michael Goldstein - was discovered by police in the early hours of Friday morning, following an emergency call from a concerned friend who was due to fly with him to Vegas, where he was booked to DJ at the Palms Hotel.

Goldstein's publicist released a statement later the same day confirming the news and asking that his family be given time to grieve.

'The circumstances surrounding his death are unclear,' read the statement. 'Out of respect for his family and loved ones, please respect their privacy at this time.'

It is thought Goldstein died of a drugs overdose with unconfirmed reports that crack cocaine and prescription drugs were found near his body in his Soho apartment.

A former fiancé of Nicole Richie, DJ AM also dated Hollywood star Mandy Moore at one stage. However, it was a recent break-up from model Haley Wood that left him an 'emotional wreck', according to friends.

'She ended it, and he didn’t want it to end,' a source told People.com. 'The break-up hurt him. He hadn't been in a good place lately. For the past week, he wasn't really around, he was keeping to himself, and he was blowing people off.'

Despite not having been seen for two days before his death, Goldstein hadn't been totally incommunicado, texting one friend around 5pm on Thursday evening. He also sent one final, in hindsight poignant Tweet, taken from a Grandmaster Flash song.

'New york, new york. Big city of dreams, but everything in new york ain't always what it seems.'