Oliver Tree, the eccentric musician who became a TikTok sensation with his self-directed music videos and viral hits, has died at 32. According to Rolling Stone, Tree was among six people killed when two helicopters collided mid-air over Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.
Rio de Janeiro police confirmed to the Associated Press that Tree was on one of the helicopters' passenger lists, with CNN Brazil also verifying his presence on board at the time of the crash.
Born Oliver Tree Nickell, the singer built a cult following by self-releasing music online throughout the 2010s, starting with a Thom Yorke-approved cover of Radiohead's "Karma Police" that landed on his debut EP Demons. His unconventional approach and distinctive visual aesthetic distinguished him in the competitive music market.
After studying at CalArts, Tree relaunched his music career in 2016 with his first official single "Welcome to LA". His 2020 debut album Ugly Is Beautiful solidified his status as a festival fixture and TikTok favorite, driven by his self-directed music videos that generated sustained attention online.
Tree was vocal about other artists allegedly copying his visual concepts—a sign of how distinctive his work had become. That signature style, combined with hits like "Alien Boy" and "Life Goes On", made him an unmistakable presence in contemporary music.
The news of his death sent shockwaves through the music community and his fanbase, who knew him for pushing creative boundaries and refusing to follow industry conventions.
