US musician Oliver Tree dies in helicopter collision in Brazil

The alt‑pop star and online personality Oliver Tree, 32, died when the helicopter he was travelling in collided with another over Rio de Janeiro. Six people were killed in the crash, including the musician and a popular Argentine content creator.

The 32‑year‑old had been on a world tour when the wreck occurred on Sunday. One of the helicopters fell onto a dealership car park, setting around 20 vehicles on fire.

Footage from Brazilian media shows a helicopter descending from the sky, followed by flames and thick smoke drifting from the crash scene.

Investigators had begun a probe into the cause of the collision by the end of the day. The Military Fire Department of the State of Rio de Janeiro was on the scene around 09:00 local time.

Witness reports list Argentine creator Gaspar Prim “Gaspi” Diaz among the six, as well as Lucas Brito Chaves, Lucas Vignale, pilot Alexandre Souza and others aboard the first aircraft, while the second helicopter had only pilot Charles Marsillac.

Born Oliver Tree Nickell in Santa Cruz, California, in 1993, he first rose to fame in 2016 after viral social‑media content. Known for his signature bowl haircut, he dropped hits such as “Life Goes On,” “Miss You” and “Alien Boy.”

He was scheduled to continue his world tour after a show in São Paulo on 6 June, with an upcoming date in Lisbon on 1 July and planned performances in Glasgow, Manchester and London later in September.

YouTuber KSI, who co‑recorded “Voices” with Tree, posted an emotional tribute on X, emphasizing the artist’s potential and legacy.

Jack‑ass star Steve‑O also marked the loss, sharing a photo of Tree and commenting on his kindness.

Tree recently earned a Brit Award nomination for “Miss You” in 2024 and had set a Guinness world record for the largest kick scooter in 2020.