American singer Oliver Tree Dies in Brazil Helicopter Crash

American singer and comedian Oliver Tree has died after two helicopters collided midair over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday, June 14. He was 32.

As reported by AP News, the helicopters crashed in the western part of Rio de Janeiro, killing all six people on board. One of the aircraft fell into the parking lot of a car dealership, where several electric vehicles caught fire. The blaze was later extinguished by firefighters.

Authorities said an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the collision. Police also said Tree, whose legal name was Oliver Tree Nickell, appeared on a passenger manifest submitted to aviation authorities. However, officials have not yet formally identified the victims' bodies.

Tree had recently been in South America. He performed in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 4 and posted a video on Instagram a day before the crash showing himself playing soccer in a neighborhood in Brazil.

The crash also reportedly claimed the life of Argentine content creator Gaspar Prim Díaz, known online as Gaspi. The 23-year-old YouTuber had more than 2.8 million subscribers. Argentine streaming channel Blender paid tribute to him on social media, saying, “Thanks for your art, your magic and your sensibility, every one of us will miss you.”

A witness, tire repair worker Fernandes de Freitas, described the incident as “terrifying” and said he saw one helicopter engulfed in flames after the collision. He also claimed to have seen a passenger jump from the other aircraft before it crashed.

In the hours following news of Tree’s death, a video from an April interview on The Zach Sang Show resurfaced online, drawing renewed attention to the artist’s views on wealth and legacy.

According to Parade, Tree revealed during the interview that he had arranged for his fortune to be donated rather than passed on to family members after his death. He said the proceeds from his music and creative work would support artists through a foundation called the Dr. Oliver Trees Art Grants for Baby Geniuses.

“I don’t believe that any of the wealth or the things that get made from [music] is mine,” Tree said during the interview.

He explained that future royalties from his music catalog would help fund grants for artists and creative projects. The foundation, he said, would be overseen by a committee of collaborators and associates who would decide how the money should be distributed.

Tree was known for blending music, comedy, and internet culture into a distinctive artistic persona. His songs Life Goes On and Miss You became international hits, while his 2020 album Ugly Is Beautiful topped Billboard’s Top Rock Albums and Alternative Albums charts.

Throughout his career, Oliver Tree cultivated a reputation for unconventional performances and satirical commentary on fame, often blurring the line between comedy and music. His unexpected death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans and fellow creators across social media.

He is survived by his parents, Jesse Louis Nickell III and Christine Marie Begin, and his older brother, Caleb.

-Tempo English