Police Confirm That YouTuber Desmond "Etika" Amofah Has Died

It’s so sad to see what the negatives of social media can do to a person. Especially one with a fragility or sensitivity that affects their mental state to that level. If it is him, I hope he’s at peace now. 💔😔

I’ve never been a fan but I’ve always felt bad for him, after his meltdown a few months ago it was obvious he clearly needed to stay away from social media and get some help. I really hope he’s okay.

Oh, snap...!
Whaat?! 😮

wait is this the dude that did xenoblade x music reaction videos?

God I can't believe this. I'm completely speechless.

and this is why you should delete your social media accounts

I'm rather amazed he wasn't institutionalized when he started fighting police and talking about being God.

If that's not a cry for help, I don't know what is.

I hope that he is found safe and sound. If not however, my condolences to his family and friends.

Edit: Rest in Peace. My thoughts go to his family and friends.

pretty terrible...

If you are thinking of hurting yourself, please call a suicide hotline. The National Suicide Hotline in the U.S. is 1-800-273-8255.

I never liked his content but I feel very sorry for him in this state and hope he is OK. his exaggerated Smash reactions never really came off to me as funny as much as tragic.

@Ralizah Listen to Joy Division. The members of the band never really listened to the lyrics, only when the lead singer was found hanged in his house was when they understood how messed up he was.

I kind of feel bad for him, but without social media he would have been a nobody (not that I have ever seen or heard of him, so to me he was anyway)
To get rid of the pressure from it he could of just deleted his accounts and gone on living his life.

Damn, I can’t believe I hadn’t heard about this sooner. There really aren’t any systems in place to help Youtubers.

I don’t like his videos, like, at all, but I hope he’s okay. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem that way. I’ll be praying for his family and friends.

If you’re considering suicide, please talk with someone. Remember that there’s people who love and value you.

Edit: My deepest condolences to his family and friends. I’m praying for y’all.

Never seen this guy before, but sad news nevertheless.

This is so sad. I hope his family and loved ones can find solace if the worst indeed happens.

As someone who struggles daily with PTSD and has been in the hospital multiple times for suicide attempts, I understand all too well the process behind his thoughts, and the words he is saying. I have these thoughts near enough every day, and it's brutal.

I have written many suicide notes, explained my reasonings so many times, and thought about my choices over and over again. We see things so clearly in these instances, knowing that the choice we're about to make isn't the only one, but it's so difficult to come out of it.

He knows, as do I, that help is available, but pushing it away, refusing it and ignoring it just happens so naturally that we feel suicide is all that is there for us.

I belive that this man has lost that fight, and I feel incredible sorrow for him and his family and friends.

All we can do, as a collective, whether we struggle ourselves, know people that do, or not, is raise awareness and be ready to lend a hand or an ear if ever the situation arises.

I live in the UK and swear by the Samaritans. They will not judge you, interrupt you, or even tell you that you're wrong. They will listen as long as you need them to, offer guidance, or stay silent if that's what you need. I have their number saved on my home screen, so all I have to do is press it to call, or someone else can do it for me if they need help with me.

I implore people to do this if you struggle or care for someone who does.

Hope for the best for him wherever he is that he is found safely. If not my condolence goes to his families and friends.

I heard he had been having some issues and had a run in with the police, but holy crap I was not expecting this.

Edit: So he's really gone...I know this is trivial, but he was so excited when Banjo got revealed for Smash, and now he won't get to play him...rest in peace.

@Zach Good post.

Nobody should feel ashamed to reach out for help. People never seem to take suicidal ideation seriously until there's an attempt, or, god forbid, an actual suicide.

Thinking about suicide a lot isn't healthy, and everyone's life is unique and irreplaceable.

I know him from CND and he seems like a nice guy. He's right about social media though having a negative impact on lots of people (especially young ones).

@J-Plap much healthier on here debating fps and resolutions.

I hope it's not him, it's a shame what social media can do to a person though if they let it.

I'm shocked he didn't get help sooner.

Only saw him in a few reaction videos, but I hope he’s a ok!😰

I really hope he's okay! I love his high-reaction videos but I hope he gets treatment!

Been following him for a long time, really hope he’s good.

Depression and mental illness are such an awful curse. And while I’m not exactly a fan of his content on YouTube, I sure hope he’s OK and he can get home safely and get the help he needs.

I never heard of him, but I sure hope he’s fine and nothing irreparable happened.

Though I wonder if NL is the right place for this kind of news, that’s not exactly what I come here to find; if anything, I come here to read about colorful games and forget about real life anguish.

Never really liked his content but nobody deserves to be in this type of situation, let's hope he's somehow okay!

Ok woah this turned very dark

He has very characteristic features, so I'm afraid if they think the body is him, it's probably him... It's credibly sad if that's the case, I hope his family and friends have had time to come to terms with the possibility.

Why does everyone have to mention whether they were a fan or liked/disliked his content? How is it relevant? Isn't just commenting on someone's well-being all that's needed? Y'all worried about your own insecurities more than anything else. Every time I see that on Twitter I lose my poop. Who gives a fudge.

To everyone those whom suffer from Mental illness is not a easy talk to make. So let's not scrap the bottom of the barrel here. If anyone is making light of one's mental illness your a SICK person and should be institutionalized.

I hope and pray he’s well. I’ve had my share of laughs watching some of his videos, his energy is out of this world. A very unique guy... thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.

Sad news.
The gift and the curse of social media.
Rip.

America: "Crippling student loan debt and medical insurance not covering mental health issues? Sure! We'll also let sensationalist corporate media and social media steer behaviors. What could possibly go wrong?"
Also America:

@Hylian_Ticipated I feel it’s more to show that you don’t have to share interests in something in order to show concern for someone.

Yeah, annoying as his video content is/was, I do hope he's alright. If not.. well, RIP, Etika. Hope you find your peace.

@HobbitGamer Exactly.

@Hylian_Ticipated I think you're a bit too quick with your judgment there. The fact that people specifically mention that, but still wish him well or hope he's okay, actually shows that these people are empathic and intelligent enough to separate the YouTube celebrity from the individual who's in need or, from what it seems to be, a VERY dire situation, and to still care about his well-being, regardless of their dislike of his channel and/or videos.

I don't like his content either. He's an over-exaggerated loudmouth, so for me, like for all those others you criticized, his videos are annoying as hell to watch, but that doesn't mean that I wish him or his family any harm.

I'd only criticize people that would wish someone harm, or wouldn't care about someone being in danger because they don't like someone's YouTube channel. Those are the short-sighted idiots that the world can definitely do without...

On a side note: bonus points for your user name. Nice play on words.

@clvr The same thought crossed my mind, as I came onto NL just now to cleanse my palette after the daily morning news binge. It didn't fit the vibe I usually aim for when I visit this site.
But Etika's a well known personality, especially in the Nintendo crowd, so I'm sure this is information some of his followers are probably wanting to hear about. I don't even subscribe to YouTubers, and I'm still peripherally aware of who Etika is. Ultimately, I think NL should still report the good and bad news. And, as a Nintendo site, the worst news to show up since Iwata's passing was Metroid 4 being delayed, so there's rarely many situations that warrant a more tragic-sided article posting.

The world truly won’t be the same without him. As someone who has struggled with depression in the past, the thing we tend to forget the most is how important we are to other people. We get so intoxicated with the idea that we are some of the most terrible people ever, when that’s almost never the truth and we forget the value we provide to others.

I’ve been a fan of his for a long time, and watching the events of the past several months take place has been nothing short of heartbreaking to watch. I hope he is still alive and well, and I wouldn’t be the least bit mad if he is simply just done with being “Etika” forever. At this point I just hope the best comes out of this situation, whatever that may be.

Edit: This doesn’t feel real...

Damn had thought thst this was someone sick joke with an fake news post. Hope it not etika ,and my condolences to the poor family of the victim

@HobbitGamer Totally good point. And...

@ThanosReXXX You're correct and that's precisely where my judgement comes from. You're either a genuine fan of his or you're not. It seems like people who aren't a fan of his want it to be known that they aren't almost out of being ashamed if they were. That's what gets me. I don't want to apply that to everyone. So my apologies. It's one of those days.

Love & Respect

@J-Plap I completely agree to be honest. In my opinion, the bad aspects of social media far outweigh the good qualities that you can enjoy from time to time. I have been staying far away from it for a long time now and I am much happier.

Regardless if you're a fan or not, try to help in some sort of way like sharing the NYPD post or if you have any information at all that might help, please share it. Mental illness and suicide are not to be taken lightly. I hope that Etika is safe.

This is why you should be nice to people on the internet

I've never heard of Etika, but this is truly heartbreaking. I really hope he's okay...

@Hylian_Ticipated Right back at'cha.

I wasn't really offended, though. Just wanted to explain the sentiment of those people, which (as you now know) I completely agree with.

Personally, I actually applaud people that can separate things and persons from each other, to make a more logical, and more objective comment on a topic.

Case in point, a personal example, which might offer some more perspective: personally, I absolutely HATE Scientology, and as most of us know, quite a few celebrities adhere to that school of thought. But regardless of that fact, I can still watch and enjoy movies that feature either John Travolta or Tom Cruise, simply because they're great actors, and I don't have to agree with every aspect of their personal lives or their points of view, to be able to enjoy their performances.

A long while back I made a video criticizing his content, and his style of entertainment, etc. I have since taken it down. I may not be a fan of his work, but I would never wish harm upon him. I feel like I am somewhat responsible for this, and this has made me really re-think some of my actions, whether it was really my fault or not

he actually disappeared this time? i remember some months ago he pulled a stunt faking his disappearance.

The people who honestly think that Etika is doing this just for the sake of pulling a stunt, especially after all the things that escalated this past week, frankly disgust me.

You people are the reason why we can't discuss our mental health openly. I felt depressed looking at Twitter these last few days.

Seriously, it's wrong.

@Crimson_Ridley I see plenty of people liked your comment, which is good, but apparently nobody felt the need to reply to it, which I think is a shame. I wanted to compliment you for having the courage to write all that down. It may all be anonymous, but I think it still takes quite a bit of guts, to own up to that, so I was impressed and I really hope you're able to keep it together and not give in to those negative thoughts.

I think that for us as outsiders, it's also good to get that perspective from someone like yourself, because probably like many others, I fairly often wonder why, if you see stuff like this in the news, these people never shared their feelings, or gotten the help/support they needed. Then again, what I can get, to some extent, is that when you're that depressed, you're not really thinking straight anymore.

I myself have suffered from depression in the past, so I can relate to it in that regard, although I've never really had any suicidal thoughts.

Either way, thanks for sharing, and I wish you good luck and strength for any upcoming struggles you might face.

I didn't subscribe to his channel because he was a little to loud for my taste (as most youtubers are), but I will always remember his "Joycon Boyz!" chant at the NY Nintendo Switch launch event. He certainly knows how to get people hyped.

I sincerely hope he is ok, and if not, then I hope he can find peace.

@BlueBlur101 i'm the only one in the comments who used the word "stunt". so i guess you're referring to me. i don't know what happened..i don't follow him closely, this is the first i'm hearing about this and the first information i'm seeing about this situation. all i know is that he faked his disappearence some months ago.

@manu0 No I'm not referring to you, sorry! There's a bunch of people on Twitter and social media making memes and jokes out of the whole situation or possibly celebrating the fact that he may have died.

apparently the police department has confirmed it's him

Rest in peace Etika.

Holy crap, I am late to this news. But this is a dark reflection of how social media permeates through people.

I had to leave Facebook in 2016 cause I like to challenge people and why they feel the way they feel. It's also reflective on me. But any counter-argument became some people's personal attacks and eventually started getting hundreds of death threats and I'll wishes each week. I'm not even famous, or big.

And that makes me feel for Etika, the dude liked his Nintendo. Imagine the fame and coupled with what people can do... oof, we are in a dark timeline.

@ThanosReXXX

Thank you for your kind reply, it means a lot to me.

I wanted to pass along my experience and perspective to hopefully help people understand it a little more. Through my years of counselling, I have learned that one of the most important parts of overcoming and living with it is to talk about it as candidly as possible. Suger coating only serves to lessen the severity of a person's troubles, and makes people think they don't need to help as much.

We need to stand up and say "I am in trouble, I really need some help" and be ready to accept it when it comes. It's difficult, and even now I have days where I shut myself down on everyone, but I try to let that happen as little as possible.

I like some of his content, so this news is really sad

@Crimson_Ridley - I just read through that, and as I have successfully committed suicide twice in my life (was almost too far gone to bring back the last time). I can say what you state is resonate.

There is always that heavy voice, always connecting unexisting dots that lead every failure was yours alone. And the justification if you distance yourself away to prevent more. You know there is help, but there is a silent whisper in us all that believe we, ourselves, are simply not worth it. There is better people.

Honestly, I will signal boost this request; get that help. I wasn't one of the lucky ones who did it in their youth, and I will forever wear many many scars because of it. Because each one will not make you feel better, but someone there listening... that'll be something that makes almost all of this feel fleeting.

(My first response was to the story, I usually read comments afterwards, sorry about my delay).

Sheesh, this is a dark day in gaming and beyond, especially with how events led up to his death. I hope we all learn something from this, to do better on the internet, streamer and viewer alike. To really help one another.

May I note that a mod at ResetEra, a board that even this site often uses as a source, encouraged Etika to do a suicide. I would ask not to link to that site anymore, or give them traffic.

I'm in shock right now. When the Switch was first announced, I loved watching his reaction videos for how fun and over-the-top they were. As he got more erratic, I stopped watching, but I never thought something like this could happen.

Anyone, if you're struggling, please please please get help. I promise you have no idea how many people love you. RIP.

@Andyliini Yes NL, PLEASE stop using links from that toxic website.

RIP my dude, you will always be known as the hypemaster to me.

So much crap happening these days, it's scary and worrisome. :/

@Andyliini - This news is both a new low, yet not a surprise knowing where it's coming from.

I was so scared he was gonna do it in October I was shaking and I couldn't sleep, these past couple of days have been making me uneasy and I hoped he could pull through this. If you are ever struggling mentally don't stay silent because there is always someone who cares about you.

@Andyliini Going to need a citation on that. This needs to be put out there so people can know.

I honestly don't know what to think about this. I am just having a weird shocking feeling. I never watched his content, but my brother likes and watches him and makes him laugh.

@nessisonett or, you know, we could help the mentally ill. Because Etika was a human being and not just someone on social media. Despite what all these articles attempting to quantify his worth by listing how many followers he had on social media.

@Anti-Matter Really? One of the biggest faces in the nintendo fanbase passes on and all you have to say is "oh snap!"

@Andyliini is there a source of this? That sounds really, really bad.
After looking to Etika's farewell video he stated that he didn't had suicidal thoughts.

@Zach getting professional help is the most important thing. You post is the most accurate and needed. Please get professional help has soon as possible, there may never be a later.

RIP and my condolences to his family and friends

Can't believe it.. One of my favourite YouTubers. Nobody brought the hype for Smash like He did. RIP man.

@Amnesiot YouTube has created a new type of fame that rises quickly and fades just as fast. Surely they should have some sort of help for the people that make them the big bucks? As the article states, Etika clearly was struggling with both mental health and the fame brought from his presence as a YouTuber.

@Gridatttack Try this thread: https://www.resetera.com/threads/internet-celebrity-etika-may-be-losing-it-again-warning-racist-and-homophobic-slurs-update-hospitalized-again-see-threadmark-staff-posts.111596/

I didn't find the post I was looking for from that thread, though. It might have been removed. There are still some posts made by moderators left.

R.I.P Prayers for the family

@nessisonett you aren't wrong, I'm just saying that mental health (healthcare in general) is a joke in America and something should be done. Not just for the famous or those that can afford it.

It needs to go beyond that even, because Etika likely had the means to get help, yet here we are. So it isn't just a money thing. Availability comes into play as well.

How sad. Was huge fan of him back in the day, but I stopped watching him as he was going down the spiral. It’s sad to see he never had the chance to seek help. May he Rest In Peace.

@Crimson_Ridley You're very welcome. You added some valid points there as well, but I can certainly imagine the struggle, especially in those moments when any semblance of rational thought is absent.

That is the guy, who was bullied by the fascists on resetera. Sad it had to end this way.

Sad day, may he rest in peace.

My condolences to his family and friends. Also I have cousin that liked his reaction videos.

I really wonder what happened that caused him to end his life like this, other than the cyberbullying. Maybe he had schizophrenia? Whatever it was, my condolences go to his loved ones.

So sad, terrible. I feel for his family.

At this point we all know what social media under the 'wrong' circumstances can do to the 'wrong' person. It's about as surprising as wet water. Most of us just don't care.
We might say we do, and for a minute there we actually might, who knows, but the next moment that phone vibrates, we flat-out don't anymore. It's the price of doing business, so to speak, and I guess we are all pretty confident, that we'll never be the ones to pay that particular piper.

I'd like to say I feel for his family, but frankly ... I don't. I don't know anything about Desmond Amofah, so I won't pretend that I'm able to empathize here. I'm not religious so "thoughts and prayers" would ring hollow. I'm just ... sorry that this happened and also sad, even more sad, that this waste of life is neither the first in its vein, nor will it be by any stretch of the imagination the last.

This kind of **** is in many ways of our own making. It be hypocritcal of me to say much else.

@Ralizah Well, dunno the specifics here, but generally, it's a good idea to not have any faith in the US mental health system. I'm not trying to be cyncial, but it's just ... well, great at off-loading issues to other fields (like gunviolence for instance).

Honest comment. Please bear with me. I've only read a few of the other comments here so far, but they've been excellent.

I very rarely watch YouTubers and have never heard of this guy until now, but that doesn't change how horrible this news is. I really, really wish that he had sought genuine help for his problems or that others had stepped in and tried to do more, but I also know first-hand that this is a lot easier said than done, a difficult situation. There's denial either by one's self or by others that there's a problem. Or the stigmas that are still associated with mental illness; there are awareness efforts that I know of that are fighting this, but it still exists. Mental illness is a hard concept for many who have never truly felt it to grasp or process.

The anonymity of the internet and social media in general, like pretty much every other neutral, unthinking tool out there, are both abused daily. In my opinion, it's fine to disagree with others, but some take it way too far with ad hominem attacks, blatant trolling, or hurtful words in general. I don't care if you're safely locked behind a screen in the comfort of your home; that doesn't change the civility that you should show to others. Bullying someone or encouraging them to harm or kill themselves should never even be part of one's thought process. We're all wired differently. Consider what your words and actions may do.

I struggle with depression and anxiety. While I have never attempted suicide, the thought has entered my head many, many times. I have, however, been guilty of self-harm. I'm currently receiving therapy with a combination of exercise, healthier eating, and counseling, but some days are still very difficult. The effort that it takes just to get out of bed and meet the day sometimes cannot be understated. It also doesn't help that, when you're in a negative state of mind and that pessimistic voice comes knocking, to read the negative feedback, whether real or perceived, in the news or social media and take it as a personal attack or that the world is proverbially burning.

Someone was kind enough to link the U.S. Suicide Hotline above. Please, if you or someone you know is thinking of severely harming themselves or committing suicide, please, PLEASE contact your country's help line. It may not seem this way in a world that screams and throws muck at you from all sides, but YOU DO MATTER. THEY MATTER.

My prayers and condolences go out to all who knew this guy. May he rest in peace.

Oh my god ...That is tragic. I really enjoyed his style and energy, but I've seen and followed the escalating events surrounding him in the recent months. I never thought it would get to this point, though ...Jesus. He went through too much. May he rest in peace. He was a brilliant guy, and will never be forgotten.

RIP and condolence goes to all who knew him.

This is very upsetting. My condolences to his family and friends. Nobosy should have to go through this and anyone who ever considers it should seek help no matter how embarrasing. Rest in Peace Desmond "Etika" Amofah. You inspired and created enjoyment for many people.

Poor soul. Too young, too soon.

This is why we need to do more to tackle mental health in the US. I hope his family okay. I remember watching his videos during the Wii U era. He will be missed.

What he lacked in game knowledge he more than made up for in his great energy and humour.

It's such a tragedy that he couldn't find the support he desperately needed.

Suicide is an extremely serious thing, and way too common in today's society. I've been through some heavy depression and struggle with anxiety daily, and I know that dark place. Don't step into it! You need to seek out help immediately, and be open about all your thoughts to those who love you, no matter how far away they are.

Rest in Peace! You were one of my favorite youtubers!

You shall be missed you glorious man. You shall be missed.

Despite not knowing him or his content it really resonates with me as someone who has suffered with anxiety and depression for quite some time.

Hopefully he will be at peace now.

@ThanosReXXX

You're completely right, even during those moments, the little me inside is telling what to do, but it can't be heard over the overwhelming feeling of desperation.

It's been really nice to discuss this with you, thank you for offering me that opportunity.

This man was such a personality, such a soul brimming with energy. Etika was truly unlike any Youtuber out there. And here we read this sad news.

I really hope we can all learn a lesson about what social media can do to an individual. I don’t use much of it myself, mainly because of my fears of its negative aspects affecting me negatively. Such mental breakdowns and suicide is a serious issue, and us as a society need to exercise knowledge and be proactive about what causes it and how we prevent it. It takes a group to make such a difference, and the need for action is strong and immediate.

My deepest thoughts and prayers go out to Etika’s family, friends, and fans. He will truly be missed. Rest in peace, my friend- today we mourn a true legend.

He was a great YouTuber and I an sending much love and condolences to his family and friends and his fans.

Social media has gotta be one of the biggest problems facing society today. It simply isn't healthy.

@Crimson_Ridley Thanks for the compliment, much appreciated.

It's tragic. Hope is family and friends do alright.

@Amnesiot Oh man, you’re right, I’m from the UK so I take our free mental health services for granted. Too many deaths are caused needlessly from the joke that is privatised healthcare.

Wow that's nuts. RIP, friend and thanks for all the laughs.

Unfortunately the occasion is very, very sad, but it’s heart-warming to see all the support this community has been giving him, his family, and each other.
It’s not often you see people openly talking about their own mental issues and offering help on the internet. Thank you all.

R.I.P. Desmond

Condolences to the family. Hate news like this. Life

Incredibly sad, such an unnecessary loss of life. 1-800-273-8255 - There is always someone to talk to.

Suicides occur everywhere, so clearly having a nationalized single payer insurance system is not the answer.

Among the many actual issues that contribute to the increasingly wide-spread mental illness epidemic is social media. I am never one to advocate for more government control, but these social media and tech companies need to be regulated, have their section 230 immunity removed, or broken up entirely with all assets and user data destroyed. Social media addition is deeply impacting the development of young brains from early ages. These companies did not comprehend how much damage they could do when they first started — they do now, and they do not care about the impact their product has on human psychology. Below are some recent articles exploring just a few negatives for Facebook alone (and this is just one company).

Former FACEBOOK President Unloads on Social Network... 'Exploiting Vulnerability in Human Psychology':
https://www.axios.com/sean-parker-unloads-on-facebook-2508036343.html

Psychologists Warn: FACEBOOK causes depression:
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/new-study-claims-facebook-instagram-and-snapchat-are-linked-to-depression-2018-11-09

FACEBOOK MODERATORS BREAK NDAS TO EXPOSE COMPANY IN CRISIS... CONTRACTOR DIES, OTHERS FEAR FOR LIVES... VIOLENCE, PTSD, SEXUAL HARASSMENT:
https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/19/18681845/facebook-moderator-interviews-video-trauma-ptsd-cognizant-tampa

FACEBOOK CO-FOUNDER CALLS FOR GOVT TO BREAK IT UP:
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/technology/its-time-to-break-up-facebook/ar-AAB84r5?li=BBr5KbJ

WHATSAPP co-founder: 'Delete FACEBOOK now':
https://www.sfgate.com/technology/article/Delete-Facebook-now-What-s-App-co-founder-13691107.php

FACEBOOK users happier if leave for month:
https://www.engadget.com/2019/01/31/study-says-quitting-facebook-improves-happiness/

FACEBOOK Suicide Prevention Program Raises Concerns:
https://smartinvestor.business-standard.com/market/Compnews-563632-Compnewsdet-Facebooks_new_role_as_global_arbiter_of_mental_distress_is_a_tricky_one.htm

FACEBOOK keeps growing — but unclear how...Record privacy fine less than quarter worth of free cash flow?:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/not-everything-about-facebook-should-stay-private-11556143484

FACEBOOK uploaded email contacts of 1.5 million users without consent:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/apr/18/facebook-uploaded-email-contacts-of-15m-users-without-consent

FACEBOOK Tracking Location of Former Employees?:
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/14/facebooks-security-team-tracks-posts-location-for-bolo-threat-list.html

FACEBOOK users happier if leave for month:
https://www.engadget.com/2019/01/31/study-says-quitting-facebook-improves-happiness/

FACEBOOK '10 Year Challenge' data scheme disguised as meme?:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/facebook-10-year-challenge-meme-could-it-mine-your-data-facial-recognition/

Zuckerberg declines to appear before 'international grand committee' probing FACEBOOK...Could face subpoena, contempt:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/zuckerberg-wont-address-unprecedented-gathering-of-parliaments-probing-disinformation/

FACEBOOK threatens media: 'Work with us or die':
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/7014408/facebook-threatens-press-saying-work-with-us-or-end-up-in-a-hospice/

FACEBOOK finally removes page inciting violence against Republicans:
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/397527-facebook-removes-page-inciting-violence-against-republicans-after-lawmakers

FACEBOOK GAVE DATA TO CHINESE FIRM FLAGGED 'THREAT' BY USA:
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/05/facebook-gave-data-access-to-chinese-firm-flagged-by-us-intelligence.html

FACEBOOK Hires Chief Lawyer Who Helped Craft 'PATRIOT ACT'...History of pushing for powerful surveillance:
https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/22/18511633/facebook-general-counsel-patriot-act-jennifer-newstead

Sorry to hear that. Nobody deserve that.. Not even the enemies. By the way, dont know him and don't know who he is. I do not watched any youtube at all. Dont liked the drama. Not my things, thought. Sad that many people are passed away at younger ages for whatever reasons. The World is crazy.

So many great gaming YouTubers who lost their life over the years.

Desmond Amofah a.k.a. Etika

Christina Grimmie a.k.a. Zeldaxlove64

Justin Carmical a.k.a. Jew Wario

John Peter Bain a.k.a. TotalBiscuit

Brian Joseph Rickard a.k.a.Yoteslaya

Damb man...wtf?? Had no idea his problems were THIS bad...smh. He seemed like a really cool guy to know. Suicides always hit me hard. I know 5 people personally that did the same thing...I'll never understand it but it still hurts all the same. Condolences to his friends and fam

While his use of the “N word” will always be jarring to me, I feel like I should honor his loss in a moment of silence. (and Taps)
https://youtu.be/WChTqYlDjtI

@Crimson_Ridley I go through bouts of severe depression too, I am lucky to have close family and friends to keep me going because without them I probably would be gone by now.

That’s terrible... I’ve heard of the guy, never watched him, but anytime something like this happens, it’s horrible, regardless of who it happens too.

@Zach I used to work my county's suicide help line. Just having someone to talk to made a lot of difference to help people survive the night.

i'm sad that he's not here anymore. i've enjoy watching his reaction. condolences to the his family and friends.

This is heartbreaking. I'm one of the many who didn't watch Etika but I saw quite a few of his clips in the past and he always seemed like a genuinely cool and passionate dude. Mental health is absolutely no joke and it's very upsetting that it had to come to this.
Rest In Peace Etika.

I watched him very sparingly because of his heavy profanity, but this is very unfortunate nonetheless. I always got a kick out of his over the top Smash Bros. reactions.

@AG_Awesome yeah this is what is meant by life is short. You never truly know what dark secrets a person has that may have them end their lives quicker, so I try not to prolong arguments, per alone it's karmic benefit to me. I don't know the person but appreciate being informed so I can celebrate his life and give family my condolences.

Really sad to hear that he passed away... Rest in peace and my best wishes go to his family and friends.

I went through some difficult moments in my life, I'm not gonna lie... but I don't give up. Ever. Life is just way too precious to have, plus I have a career to live up to. No matter how miserable things get for you, your life is worth it! Suicide is never the answer. Keep going, and definitely get help when you truly need it.

@Damo I believe even Sakurai tweeted a tribute to Etika if you want to share that as part of this update.

@Wavey84 yeah a few videos or posts per day is fine, helps fir idle time. Though I feel social media made me happier, especially on Instagram when people say my comic posts and humor helps them get through bad days. I feel it depends on who you follow whether or not you have a dumpster fire or something with potential. Unfollow helps get rid of fakers or those who reiterate their constant misery.

And you are right about YouTube time sink lol i got over 200 videos in my watch later.

Such an enthusiastic soul. I'll miss seeing his reactions to Nintendo Directs. RIP.

Many people like Etika are driven to end their life as they feel that they have no other way to rid themselves of the pain. The thing is that suicide is never a last resort. It can be hard, but if you keep trudging along with your life, and aim to be a better version of yourself, things can change for the better. Don't spend your time regretting the past. There's nothing that can be changed about it. Instead look at the past with open eyes, and learn from it. That's the only way we can live better lives

@Amnesiot

A big roadblock is that nowadays in many states of the U.S.A. it is basically illegal to institutionalize an adult individual against their will if they haven't committed a crime, despite the state of mind they might be.

Ironically less developed countries have far more control on this things because the health and civic authorities can and will force treatments and will detain individuals with a serious depression.

Wish he was alive to play the legend of Zelda breath of the wild 2 when released, well R.I.P, mental toughness isn't easy! I Hope you find peace wherever you are!

I did not know him all that well, but nevertheless my condolences go out to his family.

@Wavey84 I know quite a few teenagers that watch a lot of streamers. They don’t have any money to buy games themselves, so it kind of makes sense.

Condolence to the family.

this is just sad he a week ago he was blown away by nintendo e3 showing and now he wont be able to enjoy the new games coming to switch he will be missed.

Rest in Peace Etika <3

R.I.P. Etika. Condolences to his family and friends.

Good bye Etika,Joy-Con Boys 4 ever.

It can't be suicide, he was so excited for BotW 2 a couple weeks ago.

He was in 14:25.

I've never heard of him, but RIP and my condolences to his loved ones.

This is so sad...I don't really know to say that everyone who knew him personally or watched his videos will miss him. Mental health really is the most important thing.

I never followed him, never searched him out specifically, but I will always remember him as the top reaction video result for anything relating to Nintendo.

I really found him after the Smash Bros. Ultimate reveal and his reaction video was one of my favorites. He got 'real' in a few of his videos and seemed to have a caring soul and worried about other people who were going through a hard time, even falling into a few traps set by his followers to make him look hilariously foolish on his streams by telling a long sob story that ended with an in-joke.

Even as recently as the Banjo reveal for Smash, YouTube would recommend 'Etika Reaction'. He was a crazy funny dude, and he will definitely be missed. Maybe JewWario and Etika will collaborate on the best gaming channel ever on the other side.

Social media really can be an utter cancer. I quit it almost entirely because it was making my angry constantly. The only thing resembling social media that I still use are sites like this.

No Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc... And I encourage everyone else to follow suit. Your life will be better for it.

@Wavey84 I think it depends. There are a lot of great gaming YouTubers like Matthewmatosis, Joseph Anderson, Hbomberguy, Digibro, and Jim Sterling who I feel genuinely understand the medium and have incredibly insightful things to say.

Then there are the middle tier kinda just reporting the news guys like Dreamcastguy and ReviewTechUSA that aren’t so bad, but are hardly essential.

Other than these guys I have listed above those, I find the rest to either be mediocre or to have actually a corrupting influence on the gaming public. Jeremy from the Quartering is a good example of someone who has contributed to the downward slide of the platform.

So yeah I agree it’s good to be selective about what you choose to consume.

@Wavey84 I do feel that at times Etika didn’t use the platform responsibly and breeded a bit of a toxic community as a result. When things got outta hand it was already too late to recover what he at least partially had built. Hopefully some good conversation arises surrounding this incident and causes some Twitch and YouTubers to reflect on their own content.

My condolences to Etika’s friends and family and those effected by this tragedy.

@Belatarr
No, it is not that, the greatest act of humanity must be that, excuse the expression, use "that" brain by which it has been given and has evolved for several years; as it is possible that today, freedom of expression becomes "debauchery", in other words, acting without thinking about the consequences of everyone and of oneself; social networks were contaminated by people who only act, but do not think before acting; yes, it is not easy, and incredibly, some great things have been given to a "quick action", but we should not take as fun the act without "responsibility" and not feel that we can say something silly and that affects oneself or someone else.
In summary: Be Responsible!

https://youtu.be/I_izvAbhExY

@SakuraHaruka,

You simply can't dictate things that way,of course one would argue we should be nice online,but why?,simply because we may offend someone who has issues,how would you know this?..

The internet is a fine place most of the time,but as with everything you will have issues from time to time,and simply cannot regulate your conduct based on a small minority of people who may not be equipped to take negative comments and brush them off.

@Wavey84 Agreed. YouTube comments can be just as toxic. I know that all too well.

Rest well Etika. Condolences to his family and friends during this tough time. I’ve lost two friends in two years via suicide. It’s never easy to get your head around but it also highlights the importance of keeping an eye on your friends who are going through tough times.

Sorry for his family and friends that are affected.He seemed like a good guy. But Facebook,instagram,youtube,google, twitter don't care when their platforms affect users negatively. They're only concerned with censoring people they don't like for political reasons. Social media is one of the worst things to ever come to fruition as far as I'm concerned. just my opinion of course

Tragic and unfortunately I can relate as I know what dark feeling like this can do to you.

Unfortunately the comments here just show part of the issue - people commenting “don’t like his content” you are so entitled- he posted content for people that liked it. You don’t need to watch or give negative constant feedback. These are humans. We live in a time where people seem to think it’s ok to constantly comment on people on social media/YouTube and forums... if you don’t like a content creator or poster or twitter.... move on... don’t make that person feel rubbish. Words hurt. Written as much as spoken if not more as written you can keep reading. No matter if you get 1000 positive comments and 10 negative the 10 negative will haunt you. This goes for movie stars, sport stars and just randoms YouTube, forums and social media....

Think before you give your negative opinion. If you don’t like content do view and follow it.

You don’t watch TV to constantly say I don’t like this. Watch, follow and play stuff you like. Don’t watch stuff to spread negativity into others lives that are just trying to make their own way in life. You can do more damage than you can ever imagine

@Stocksy,

True,but it's a shame that if you got a 1000 positive comments that 10 negative ones would affect you more,of course our brains are wired up to be far more receptive to bad news rather than good.

I almost lost my sister due to suicidal thoughts. My brother and I tried our best to keep her spirits up over the last few weeks. Good thing she is still with us. It is unfortunate that Etika did not have the same support that my sister had. R.I.P. Etika. You will be remembered.

this is so sad But why is this on a nintendo news site ?

Thoughts with his family and loved ones ❤️

@Andyliini This one, right? And a lot of users kept calling him a "piece of s***" and the moderation did nothing.

https://i.imgur.com/s4D86fw.jpg

@retro_player_22 Oh, wow. You actually included Justin in that list. You ARE aware of the underage grooming of a fan that took place during a con by him, right? I'm not saying that killing himself was the right thing to do OR that his suicide was a good thing, but calling him a "great gaming youtuber" after the fact is kinda sick.

My condolences go out to his friends and family and I hope he is at peace now. Never really knew about him but it's awful to hear about nevertheless.

I think IRL some people are passive aggressive but with the internet some people can be true a-holes. We can debate but why do things have to go personal, I wouldn't dream of wishing death, pain or bad vibes on people on the net or IRL, there's so many good things we can say to each other, why intentionally upset people I'll never know.

@johnvboy
"You simply can't dictate things that way"
Obviously I can not tell people what to do, but I can not "keep quiet" and tell people (and respectfully, of course) that they make mistakes to avoid problems.
Sure, we all make mistakes, the point is, until "point" we could tolerate those errors, just because we do not know who are on the other side of the screen, does not mean we can act as we want, right?, and yes, we have freedom of expression, but as I mentioned, one thing is freedom and another is debauchery, and unfortunately, the last one is what lookes that predominates the world of the Internet.
We have the right to give a negative opinion about something, to give a critique, but have "to know" how to do it, as simple as that; and again, yes, it is normal some time where we have "a touch" of drama, but, as I mentioned, we must be "responsible", to know to what extent "hot discussion" should stop and avoid unnecessary problems

and finally, the solution is not to eliminate social networks, it's simply to improve our behavior, just like that.

@SakuraHaruka,

I agree that in an ideal world we would all get on with each other,that goes for interactions both online and off,but you can't dictate how people can act,or take away their right to free speech,which some will say is not really free because there will always be consequences.

But offrence is a very grey area as one person may take offence to something said,while another person may not..now that does not make any side right or wrong as it's personal opinion at the end of the day.

@Ralizah
Where those comments mentioned in the deleted video posted in this article?

@retro_player_22 So she was the one I heard from my mom who said someone who was on The Voice that got shot from 2016..... she should still be here alive...

I did not think I knew him until I saw a reaction video of his and remembered his personality. I now remember having caught his reaction videos in the past every once in a while and I always thought they were cute.

Seeing as that was all I knew of him, I don't really know what was going on in his life that brought him to this. Either way, it's sad.

@retro_player_22
Why did you put Justin into that list? He does not deserve to be on any "Great" list after what that lowlife has done.

Some people are genetically predisposed toward self-destruction

Personally I never heard of him whatsoever, but suicide and the misunderstood nature of mental illness is always tragic.

I didn't know the guy, but think its pretty sad.

Can't say I'm going to miss him. Youtube kept pushing recommendations with him in it too, which are all highly annoying.