YouTubers PewDiePie and Keemstar have shared their sadness as it was confirmed by authorities Etika’s body had been found.
The gamer went missing a week ago after posting a worrying video online, now the likes of Pewds and Keemstar have paid tribute to their comrade.
On Tuesday afternoon, New York Police Department confirmed the sad news, that 29-year-old Etika – real name Desmond Amofah – had been found deceased.
The New York Police Department had responded to an emergency call at 6.18pm reporting a body in the water, and police confirmed that the male was pronounced dead on the scene.
‘We regret to inform that Desmond Amofah aka Etika has been found deceased,’ the statement on social media read.
Taking to social media, PewDiePie – real name Felix Kjellberg – shared a post on Twitter admitting it was hard for him to process the news he’d just heard.
‘Hard to grasp that he’s actually gone, left us way too soon,’ the vlogger and streamer wrote.
‘You will continue to live on in our hearts. Rest in peace @Etika.’
Immediately afterwards, he shared the hotline numbers for crisis lines should anyone be needing to talk.
‘If you’re struggling mentally, speak to someone close or call,’ he wrote. ‘You are important!’
Beauty influencer James Charles spoke out online not long after the news broke.
‘RIP Etika. My heart is so so heavy hearing this news. I hope that the community FINALLY realizes that creators are human beings with real, valid feelings,’ he wrote.
‘Someone having followers doesn’t excuse cyberbullying. It’s so easy to be kind to one another!’
While Keemstar – real name Daniel Keem – shared the last message he received from Etika, which hit him particularly hard.
‘His final words to me… damn this hit me hard,’ he wrote alongside the video.
In it, Etika is smiling as he filmed his message that was: ‘Keemstar, I wish you the best, my n****.’
He added that on his next #FridayFortnite stream they’ll raise money for Etika’s family and funeral costs, before he implored YouTube to reinstate the gamer’s final video.
