American singer Oliver Tree, the eccentric artist known for viral hits like Life Goes On and Miss You, died Sunday, June 14, in a devastating collision between two helicopters over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The impact triggered a massive fire, leaving six people dead and prompting a full-scale investigation by Brazilian aeronautical authorities.
The 32-year-old musician was a passenger in one of the aircraft involved in the mid-air crash, according to information from Rio’s Civil Police relayed by CNN Brasil. Officials cautioned that formal identification processes are ongoing due to the condition of the bodies following the intense post-crash blaze. A police source confirmed to Agence France-Presse that there were no survivors from either helicopter.
One helicopter was carrying five people, while the second aircraft held only its pilot. Among the other victims identified is Argentine content creator Gaspar Prim, widely known as Gaspi, who commanded a following of several million across social media platforms.
The Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center, a division of the Brazilian Air Force, has dispatched investigators to the crash site to conduct technical assessments and secure evidence. Simultaneously, the National Civil Aviation Agency announced it is verifying the administrative and regulatory status of both the helicopters and the pilots involved.
A ‘Free Spirit’ Lost: Tributes Pour in for the Viral Star
Originally from Santa Cruz, California, Oliver Tree had carved out a unique space on the international music scene, amassing nearly 20 million social media followers and over 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify. He was in Brazil as part of his global tour, having performed in São Paulo on June 6, with the European leg scheduled to begin next month.
In the hours following the tragedy, Brazilian personalities shared their grief. Among them was Lucas Vinicius, the popular videographer, comedian, and musician known as Lucas Inutilismo. He had filmed a viral video with Tree just a day earlier, on Saturday, June 13.
In a lengthy Instagram story, Inutilismo reflected on his brief but profound encounter with the artist. “Our short meeting immediately brought me many reflections and changed my way of seeing things. A true lesson on what it means to live with intensity and to respect that deep desire we have to connect with others, without barriers,” he wrote. Grappling with the sudden loss, he confessed, “The involuntary pursuit of ‘why?’, of ‘how is this possible?’ is eating me up inside.”
He concluded his tribute by honoring “that free and admirable spirit, gone to rest far too soon,” adding a final message to the singer: “Thank you infinitely.”
