Andy Spade releases emotional statement about his wife's death to share the "truth".

Kate Spade’s husband Andy has spoken of his wife’s struggle with mental illness and attempted to quash the growing rumours about what led to her death.

The 55-year-old was found dead in her New York apartment on Tuesday morning local time after an apparent suicide.

In an emotional statement to The New York Times, her husband of 24 years confirmed reports that he and the fashion designer were “living separately”, but clarified they had no plans to divorce. He said the couple had their 13-year-old daughter Frances Beatrix’s best interests front of mind.

"For the past 10 months we had been living separately, but within a few blocks of each other," he explained.

"Bea was living with both of us and we saw each other or spoke every day. We ate many meals together as a family and continued to vacation together as a family. Our daughter was our priority.

"We were not legally separated, and never even discussed divorce. We were best friends trying to work through our problems in the best way we knew how. We were together for 35 years. We loved each other very much and simply needed a break."

Andy said that his wife had suffered from depression and anxiety "for many years", but was "actively seeking help" to treat her mental illness.

"She was actively seeking help for depression and anxiety over the last five years, seeing a doctor on a regular basis and taking medication for both depression and anxiety."

This in opposition to statements her older sister Reta Saffo made to Mail Online that Kate had been living with bipolar disorder and was too scared to seek help in case it harmed her brand.

Andy, however, wanted to clarify his statement as "the truth", adding, "anything else that is out there right now is false."

"There was no substance or alcohol abuse. There were no business problems."

The entrepreneur also took aim at those who shared the "private message" Kate wrote for her daughter with the media, saying he was "yet to see any note left behind".

"My main concern is Bea and protecting her privacy as she deals with the unimaginable grief of losing her mother. Kate loved Bea so very much."

He said that he and his daughter had spoken to Kate the night before she was found dead and that she "sounded happy".

"There was no indication and no warning that she would do this. It was a complete shock. And it clearly wasn’t her. There were personal demons she was battling."

Andy also had kind words to say of his wife and business partner when he spoke of how the loss had affected him and Frances Beatrix.

"Kate was the most beautiful woman in the world. She was the kindest person I’ve ever known and my best friend for 35 years.

"My daughter and I are devastated by her loss, and can’t even begin to fathom life without her. We are deeply heartbroken and miss her already."

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