According to Oliver Tree’s mother, Christine Begin Nickell, he seemed happy and enthusiastic the day before he died in a helicopter accident on June 14th in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The mother of the recently deceased musician spoke at a memorial service held Saturday at the University of California, Santa Cruz’s Quarry Amphitheater. A video of the event was streamed live on the artist’s YouTube channel.
Nickell shared with the audience that she’d texted Tree the day before the accident to check in on his progress quitting smoking. He had previously said he’d stop when his tour began.
She explained that he immediately called her on FaceTime, and even though he blew cigarette smoke in her face, he seemed incredibly happy and full of life that day.
Nickell shared that her son had excitedly talked about a trip to a mountaintop home where he planned to create content for TikTok and make music with friends. He was someone who lived for unforgettable experiences, always seeking out amazing days.
The crash also claimed the lives of several others alongside the 32-year-old singer: 23-year-old YouTube personality Gaspar ‘Gaspi’ Prim, director and screenwriter Lucas Vignale (29), music producer Lucas Brito Chaves (21), and pilots Charles Marsillac and Alexandre Souza.
The moving event featured video tributes, music, and heartfelt speeches honoring the much-missed artist.
The livestream of the event featured three coffins, each representing a different side of Tree’s artistic personality.
Logan Paul, Diplo, and Ethan Klein were also among those who attended the memorial event.
In his speech, Paul remembered the artist as someone who was universally loved – a true friend to all. He described him as a passionate and adventurous person who had a remarkable gift for making everyone feel valued and understood.
Paul shared that Oliver was an incredibly talented artist whose music will be remembered forever. He believed Oliver would be pleased to see everyone honoring his life and continuing forward with strength.
All donations collected at the memorial will go to the Oliver Tree Foundation for Baby Geniuses, an organization that supports emerging artists.
Oh my gosh, they’re having another tribute to him! I just heard about this incredible paddle-out memorial happening Monday morning at Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz Board Riders are organizing it, and honestly, it warms my heart that everyone is welcome to join and celebrate his life with us. It’s going to be so beautiful… I can’t wait!
On July 18th, the organization announced on Instagram that they’re holding a celebration of life for Oliver with a paddle-out event honoring his memory and love for the ocean. The Santa Cruz community is organizing the event, and volunteers will be available to help participants get in and out of the water.
Oh my gosh, it just broke my heart again seeing it! She posted this beautiful throwback picture of him as a little boy on June 18th – like, seriously adorable – and she was just pouring out all this love and gratitude for having him in her life. It’s so touching knowing how much she cherished every moment with him. I can’t even imagine… it just reminds me what an incredible soul he was, even back then.
As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen firsthand how deeply a child’s impact can ripple outwards. It breaks my heart to share that our son, Oliver, has passed away. We’re absolutely devastated, but also incredibly proud of the wonderful person he was and the positive difference he made in the world. We’ll miss him terribly. Rest in peace, sweet boy.
As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following the heartbreaking news surrounding Tree’s passing. It was especially touching to see his girlfriend, Fiona Chernavskaya, express her gratitude on Instagram for the outpouring of support she’s received. Shortly after, Tree’s mother shared a deeply moving message – a testament to the love and kindness everyone has shown during this incredibly difficult time.
Chernavskaya expressed her gratitude for all the support she’s receiving right now and asked that others also offer kindness to those grieving his loss.
On Tuesday, she shared a heartfelt message about her close friend, the recently deceased singer, recalling their incredible adventures traveling to 43 countries and every continent on Earth.
The happiness, wonder, and positivity you shared with me and so many others will always be remembered. No one could ever fill your place.
She remembered him saying during their fights that even if things didn’t work out in this life, he’d find her again in the next. She finished with, ‘I love you, my sweet.’
Tree held his last concert on June 6th in São Paulo, Brazil. He was also scheduled to perform in Lisbon, Portugal on July 1st.
The beloved artist, who recently passed away, surprisingly wore a Shrek costume during an interview on the Zach Sang Show on April 24th to promote his album, ‘Love You Madly Hate You Badly’.
In an interview, he explained that he doesn’t consider any profits or creations from his work to be personally his own.
I’ve made it clear in my will that when I die, I don’t want any of my family to receive an inheritance – not even a single cent, whether I have a spouse or children or not.
Tree, who was single and didn’t have children, explained that she promised to help her nieces and nephews with college expenses, but wanted them to earn their own way in life. She said they were being supported because of financial opportunities created by her father years ago.
Tree said that he wanted to put his money back into the arts following his passing.
Tree explained that he plans to leave his entire fortune to support artists after he passes away. He’s established a foundation, officially named ‘Dr. Oliver Tree’s Art Grants for Baby Geniuses,’ to make this happen.
The plan is for the income from my music to primarily cover these costs. However, there’s flexibility built in, as my work should still generate revenue after I’m gone – and likely increase in value over time.
Tree spoke about how ‘historically speaking,’ interest ‘in an artist’s work go up after they die.’
He believes people won’t truly value his work – his videos and songs – until after he’s gone. He also admitted it may not happen at all, but that ultimately doesn’t matter because his art will still generate income regardless.
2026-07-27 02:52