Tree was reportedly on board one of two helicopters that collided mid-air this morning in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Pitchfork reports)
Eccentric musician known for his viral videos among six people who died in when two helicopters collided mid-air in Rio de Janeiro
One of the helicopters crashed into several electronic vehicles in a car dealership’s parking lot, igniting a fire that was later extinguished, according to local police and fire departments. All six people aboard were killed, including DJ and producer Lucas Brito Chaves, the YouTuber known as Gaspi, and independent director and screenwriter Lucas Vignale. Tree was 32.
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A mainstay on the internet, Tree was impossible to miss, thanks in large part to his infamous bowl cut and go-to outfit: a gaudy sweatsuit straight out of an ’80s workout video and a pair of bold, red sunglasses. Although he had been making music for over 15 years, he didn’t find crossover success until the late 2010s with singles like “Hurt,” “Cash Machine,” and “Let Me Down” leapfrogging each other in popularity.
Once Tree dropped “Life Goes On,” he never looked back, with the track becoming platinum in under two years, only to be surpassed by “Miss You” going 2x platinum in five countries shortly afterwards.
In May, the singer announced plans to embark on Oliver Tree World’s First World Tour; the South American leg of the trek began May 30 in Mexico and concluded with Tree’s final concert, a June 6 show in Sao Paolo.
