Oliver Tree Dies in Helicopter Crash in Rio de Janeiro
Singer and internet personality Oliver Tree was among six people killed in a fatal helicopter crash over Rio de Janeiro on Sunday morning, according to fire officials. He was 32 years old.
Rio de Janeiro’s military fire department confirmed that one of the helicopters crashed in the parking lot of a car dealership, where several electric vehicles were parked. The impact sparked a fire that was later extinguished, as reported by The Associated Press.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collision. Police confirmed that Tree was listed as a passenger on the helicopter, though officials were unable to identify the bodies of those killed in the crash.
A Promising Career Cut Short
Tree was in the middle of his headlining world tour for his fourth studio album, Love You Madly, Hate You Badly, which launched on May 30 in Mexico City. He had recently performed in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 4 and shared videos on Instagram on Saturday of himself playing soccer in a Brazilian neighborhood.
Born in 1993, Tree began his music career producing dubstep under the stage name “Tree” and released his first EP, Demons, in 2013. He signed with Atlantic Records in 2017 and rose to fame with his 2018 single Welcome to LA. Over the years, he released four studio albums, including Ugly Is Beautiful (2020), Cowboy Tears (2022), Alone in a Crowd (2023), and his final album, Love You Madly, Hate You Badly, released in April 2026.
Beyond music, Tree was known for his eccentric creativity and viral stunts. In 2020, he broke the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest kick scooter, measuring over 4.16 meters high and 3.13 meters long. He amassed a massive online following, with more than three million followers on Instagram and 17.2 million on TikTok.
Tributes Pour In from Fellow Artists
News of Tree’s death prompted an outpouring of grief from fellow musicians and online personalities. Comedian Whitney Cummings wrote on social media: “Oliver Tree is one of the most talented people in the world… Oliver is pure love and the best version of what an artist and a person can and should be. There is no silver lining. We have lost a giant.”
Singer-songwriter Melanie Martinez, who was with Tree, shared a heartfelt tribute on her Instagram Stories: “It’s truly difficult to understand how someone with whom you once shared such a special and formative time in your life can suddenly be gone. He was so dedicated to his art, which I deeply admired and respected… His laugh was so infectious and warm. He had such a heart and was a true artist in every way.”
British influencer and musician KSI expressed his shock on X: “You’re 32, man. You should still be here. You had so much life left to live. So much music to make. You’re a legend and you’ll always be a legend.”
Other tributes came from singer Bebe Rexha, Jackass star Steve-O, rapper T-Pain, and Canadian rapper bbno$, all of whom praised Tree’s creativity, kindness, and unique spirit.
Global News has reached out to the Rio de Janeiro state civil police for further comment but has not yet received a response.
