The popular video sharing platform TikTok has over one billion users.
While some TikTokers have begun their ascent to fame, several rising TikTok stars have had
their careers cut short. Let's take a look at the TikTok stars you might not know have died.
Timbo the Redneck was a Florida teen whose videos chronicling his life
earned him over 200,000 followers on TikTok. His videos, most of which were comedy,
regularly caught thousands of views. According to Insider:
"Hall [...] was known for being an ardent supporter of former
President Donald Trump and his southern lifestyle in Florida."
In July 2021, Timbo died at the age of 18 after he and his girlfriend got
into an automobile accident. A young man named Tony, Timbo's purported future brother-in-law,
took to YouTube to update fans on the tragic accident, explaining,
"He was doing doughnuts in the front yard in JD's house."
"The truck just flipped over and he flew out
the driver's side window and the truck landed on top of him."
Tony went on to assure fans that Timbo cared about them and loved making videos for TikTok.
According to his obituary, before the accident,
Timbo hoped to become a welder. The late TikTok star's obituary also noted:
"His true happiness and inspiration came from his videos and everyone around him."
Ethan Peters, who went by ethanisupreme on social media, was an influencer best known
for his makeup tutorials. Peters started his social media career when he was 13.
Several years after starting his beauty-focused Instagram account,
Peters found himself with a large following across multiple platforms.
Eventually, he began posting on TikTok as well. Peters had dreams of meeting beauty juggernauts
like Kylie Jenner and Jeffree Star, and hoped to grow his career in the beauty industry.
In September 2021, the influencer's father found him in his bedroom.
Ava Louise, a fellow influencer and friend of Peters,
took to Twitter following his death, writing:
"Addiction is a disease. I had to pull Ethan aside in recent weeks and
have talks with him about his usage. Everyone close to him was scared."
Fox News reported that though there was no "'official ruling,'
the elder Peters is certain that the death was a drug overdose." Peters was 17 when he died.
While his TikTok username was @Babyface.S, Matima Miller's followers
knew him as Swavy. A lot of Swavy's content was of him dancing, while some was comedic.
The teenage TikTok sensation lived and filmed his videos in Delaware.
They regularly garnered millions of views.
In July 2021, Swavy died at just 19 years old following a fatal shooting, per a report from
the Wilmington Police Department. Swavy's death was shrouded in controversy after talk
show host Wendy Williams covered the incident, saying quote, "I have no idea who this is."
She proceeded to ask her audience to clap if they knew who he was before disclosing the
news of his death. Swavy's mother criticized Williams and her reporting to 3 CBS Philly.
"Look at my eyes and stuff y'all. Like as a mother, Wendy Williams, how dare you.
So disrespectful."
Despite Williams' coverage, Swavy's mother assured the outlet her son's,
quote, "legacy will live on forever."
Australian Caitlyn Loane posted videos to TikTok about her life working as a farmer.
She gave fans a glimpse into the day-to-day bustle of a Tasmanian farmer.
Loane took her own life at 19 years old. According to People, she had over 50,000 followers on
the video sharing platform at the time of her death but her follower count has doubled since.
Loane was dedicated to "Promoting Women in Agriculture," per her TikTok bio.
Her mother confirmed her love for agriculture, telling The Mercury:
"Her smile lit up the room […] She wasn't afraid to get her
hands dirty — in some photos, she has mud up to her knees."
Her father added:
"She was a lovely, crazy young woman who was an invaluable member of our family."
Tragically, more than one TikTok star's life has been ended by suicide.
Dazharia Shaffer, was known on social media for completing viral challenges and dancing.
The TikTok star was a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana,
where she was beginning her business and vlogging. She also documented her life
on Instagram and YouTube where she'd amassed millions of followers across three platforms.
In February 2021, at just 18 years old, the TikToker ended her life.
After her death, her father started a GoFundMe page where
he shared the news of her death, writing:
"I only wish she would have spoken to me about her stress and the thoughts of suicide."
He affectionately referred to her as his "little jelly bean"
and told readers he had to let her, quote, "fly high with the angels."
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts,
please call or chat online with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Or Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line 741741.