The global music and entertainment industry has been thrown into shock following a tragic helicopter collision in Brazil that left six people dead, including US alt-pop musician and internet personality Oliver Tree.
The incident occurred over Rio de Janeiro on Sunday during what authorities described as a mid-morning air operation involving two helicopters. One of the aircraft reportedly crashed into a car park at a vehicle dealership, triggering a fire that engulfed around 20 cars.
Emergency services from the Military Fire Department of the State of Rio de Janeiro responded shortly after 09:00 local time (12:00 GMT). Video footage circulating in Brazilian media shows one helicopter descending rapidly before impact, followed by flames and thick black smoke rising from the crash site.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the mid-air collision.
Reports indicate that Argentine content creator Gaspar Prim Diaz, also known online as “Gaspi,” may also have been among those on board one of the aircraft. Other individuals listed on the passenger manifest include Lucas Brito Chaves, Lucas Vignale, and pilot Alexandre Souza. The second helicopter was reportedly crewed solely by pilot Charles Marsillac.
Oliver Tree, born Oliver Tree Nickell in California in 1993, rose to prominence in 2016 through viral online content and later established a global music career. Known for his distinctive style and unconventional performances, he gained widespread recognition with tracks such as *Life Goes On*, *Miss You*, and *Alien Boy*.
At the time of the incident, he was in the middle of a world tour, having recently performed in São Paulo on June 6. Upcoming shows were scheduled across Europe, including Portugal and the United Kingdom.
Tributes have poured in from across the entertainment industry. British rapper and content creator KSI expressed deep grief in a post on social media, describing Tree as a talented artist with “so much life to live.” He praised their collaboration on the track *Voices* and said the loss felt deeply personal.
Actor and stunt performer Steve-O also paid tribute, describing Tree as a caring friend who regularly checked in and supported those close to him.
Oliver Tree’s career included a 2024 Brit Award nomination for his collaboration *Miss You* with producer Robin Schulz, and a Guinness World Record in 2020 for creating the world’s largest kick scooter.
As investigations continue into the cause of the crash, fans around the world are mourning the sudden loss of an artist known for his eccentric creativity, online influence, and genre-defying music career.
