Oliver Tree, the singer and internet personality behind viral hits including "Life Goes On" and "Miss You", has died at the age of 32 following a devastating helicopter crash in Brazil.
The American musician was reportedly among six people killed when two helicopters collided mid-air over Rio de Janeiro on Sunday morning before crashing into the parking lot of an electric vehicle dealership. The impact sparked a major fire that engulfed multiple vehicles. Authorities confirmed that all six people on board the aircraft died in the accident.
The crash took place in the suburb of Recreio dos Bandeirantes in western Rio de Janeiro. Emergency services said one helicopter came down in a parking area filled with electric vehicles, triggering a blaze, while a second aircraft crashed nearby. Investigators are still working to determine exactly how the collision occurred.
© Getty ImagesAmong the victims were Argentinian YouTuber Gaspar Prim Díaz, known to millions of fans as Gaspi, as well as Lucas Vignale, Lucas Brito Chaves and pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac. Reports from Brazilian authorities identified Oliver as one of those killed in the collision.
The tragedy comes just hours after Oliver shared what would become his final social media post. The singer uploaded a video from Rio de Janeiro alongside Brazilian content creator Iae Break, captioning it: "American for the 1st time in Brazil."
© Getty Images for CoachellaFollowing news of the accident, lae shared a series of photos with the musician and wrote in Portuguese: "I can't believe you guys are gone."
Born Oliver Tree Nickell in Santa Cruz, California, the performer built a devoted global fanbase thanks to his genre-blending music, eccentric style and instantly recognisable bowl haircut.
After gaining attention with viral tracks including When I'm Down, he signed with Atlantic Records in 2017 and released his debut studio album Ugly Is Beautiful in 2020. He would go on to release three further albums, most recently Love You Madly Hate You Badly, which arrived in April this year.
Oliver's music became a social media phenomenon. Life Goes On and Miss You amassed hundreds of millions of views online and were used millions of times across TikTok, introducing his music to audiences around the world.
© Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagTributes from fellow stars quickly began flooding social media. YouTuber and musician KSI shared an emotional message, writing: "Can't believe I'm actually having to type this. You're 32 man. You should still be here. You still had so much life to live. So much music to make."
He added: "You're a legend and will always be a legend. Still doesn't feel real. Genuinely feel sick. I love you bro."
© Getty Images for CoachellaRapper Lil Yachty also paid tribute, sharing a photograph with Oliver alongside the message: "Man, rest in peace friend."
At the time of his death, Oliver was in the middle of a world tour supporting his latest album. The tour had begun in Mexico City at the end of May and was scheduled to continue across Asia, New Zealand, South Africa and Europe in the coming months. Investigations into the cause of the collision remain ongoing.
