In brief
The American alt‑pop singer and internet personality Oliver Tree, 32, was killed when the helicopter he was travelling in collided with another off Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. The crash caused a vehicle parking lot to catch fire and led to an investigation by authorities. Tributes poured in from fellow artists, fans and media outlets worldwide, highlighting Tree’s distinctive style and recent world tour. The incident cut short a growing career that had just begun to expand across Europe. The accident underscores the risks of celebrity travel setups and the need for stricter aviation protocols.
Paul Glynn, culture reporter – 19 minutes ago
Alt‑pop artist Oliver Tree was among six people who died when the helicopter he was travelling in collided with another in Brazil on Sunday.
The 32‑year‑old had been on a world tour when the crash occurred over Rio de Janeiro. One of the helicopters fell onto a car‑park dealership, setting around 20 vehicles ablaze.
Footage from Brazilian media shows a helicopter dropping from the sky, with flames and thick smoke rising from the site.
Authorities say an investigation into the cause of the collision is now underway.
The Military Fire Department of the State of Rio de Janeiro was called to the crash site at about 09:00 local time (12:00 GMT).
Argentine content creator Gaspar Prim Diaz – known online as Gaspi – was also believed to have been in one of the helicopters, according to the Associated Press.
Other passengers on the helicopter’s manifest included Lucas Brito Chaves, Lucas Vignale and pilot Alexandre Souza; the second aircraft listed only pilot Charles Marsillac.
Born Oliver Tree Nickell in Santa Cruz, California in 1993, he first rose to fame in 2016 after going viral on social media.
With a distinctive bowl haircut, he was known for hits including “Life Goes On,” “Miss You” and “Alien Boy.”
Tree had just begun a world tour, with a recent show in São Paulo, Brazil on 6 June. He was next scheduled to perform in Lisbon, Portugal, on 1 July and had further dates in Glasgow, Manchester and London in September.
British YouTuber KSI, who collaborated with him on the track “Voices,” paid an emotional tribute on X: "Can't believe I'm actually having to type this. You're 32 – man. You should still be here. So much music to make. So much content to make," he posted. "You're a legend and will always be a legend. Genuinely feel sick. I love you bro."
Jackass star Stephen Glover, better known as Steve‑O, also paid tribute online, sharing a photograph of the two of them together: "I was incredibly lucky to become friends with Oliver Tree. He would check in on me regularly, let me know he cared about how I was doing. Such a great person… I'm going to miss him."
Tree was nominated for a Brit Award in 2024 for his song “Miss You,” alongside German producer Robin Schulz.
In 2020, he broke a Guinness World Record for building the largest kick scooter at 0.16m tall and 3.13m long.
