What Happened to Etika? Why Did Etika Kill Himself?
by Mathelene
Updated Aug 19, 2023
What Happened to Etika?
Desmond "Etika" Amofah, a popular YouTuber and streamer, faced a series of challenges and struggles that ultimately led to his tragic death by suicide in June 2019. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Etika initially gained attention as a model and rapper before finding fame as a YouTuber known for his enthusiastic content centered around Nintendo Direct presentations and Super Smash Bros. character reveals.
His journey took a tumultuous turn in October 2018 when he posted explicit sexual content on his YouTube channel, leading to its termination due to violations of the platform's guidelines. In response, he left a cryptic message on his subreddit, which alarmed his fanbase as it hinted at thoughts of death and indicated his desire to depart from the world. While some initially believed it was a publicity stunt or rebranding attempt, it was apparent that Etika was struggling with his mental health.
In early 2019, Etika's tweets became more indicative of his mental state, discussing topics like psychedelics and the universe. As the months passed, his mental health worsened, leading him to post troubling tweets that suggested self-harm and suicide. The online community grew increasingly concerned about his well-being.
Amid these struggles, Etika's friends and fellow content creators attempted to provide support. He was even hospitalized at times, but his condition continued to deteriorate. He posted photoshopped images portraying self-harm and engaged in hateful speech, causing more alarm among his fans.
In June 2019, Etika uploaded a video titled "I'm sorry" on his YouTube channel. In the video, he expressed remorse for his actions, apologized for betraying his fans' trust, and hinted at his mental health issues. He mentioned feeling like he was mentally ill and acknowledged the challenges he had faced. Following the release of this video, he was reported missing, prompting concern from both his fans and the online community.
Despite search efforts by the NYPD and the outpouring of concern, Etika's body was discovered in the East River on June 24, 2019. His cause of death was determined to be suicide by drowning. His passing highlighted the need to address mental health struggles, particularly within the context of social media and the challenges content creators face.
Etika's legacy lives on through the tributes and memories shared by his fans, friends, and fellow content creators. A memorial was established at the Manhattan Bridge, and a fundraising campaign for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) was launched in his name, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness and providing support for individuals facing mental health challenges.
Why Did Etika Kill Himself?
Desmond "Etika" Amofah's tragic suicide in June 2019 was the result of a culmination of factors, primarily rooted in his ongoing struggles with mental health issues. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Etika initially rose to prominence as a model and rapper before gaining fame as a YouTuber known for his vibrant content centered around Nintendo Direct presentations and Super Smash Bros. character reveals.
However, a turning point came in October 2018 when he posted explicit sexual content on his YouTube channel, leading to the termination of his channel due to violations of YouTube's guidelines. This incident marked the beginning of a series of events that revealed the extent of Etika's mental health challenges.
In January 2019, Etika's tweets began to hint at his difficulties in coping with mental illness. He mentioned subjects like psychedelics and the universe, reflecting his inner turmoil. As the year progressed, his mental state continued to deteriorate, leading him to post increasingly troubling tweets that suggested self-harm, death, and suicide. These messages raised alarm among his fanbase and fellow content creators who were concerned for his well-being.
Despite his friends' and supporters' efforts to offer help, Etika's mental health continued to worsen. He posted images that indicated self-harm and engaged in hate speech, further underscoring his emotional distress. In April 2019, he even faced detainment and hospitalization after displaying tendencies toward self-harm and erratic behavior.
The situation escalated further when, in June 2019, Etika uploaded a video titled "I'm sorry" on his YouTube channel. In this video, he expressed regret for his actions, apologized for betraying his fans' trust, and alluded to his mental health struggles. He acknowledged his mental illness and spoke of the walls closing in around him, revealing a sense of desperation and anguish.
Following the release of this video, Etika was reported missing, prompting a search by the NYPD and concern from his fans and the online community. Tragically, his body was discovered in the East River on June 24, 2019, and his cause of death was determined to be suicide by drowning.
While no single factor can fully explain Etika's decision, his struggles with mental health, his public displays of distress, and his inability to find effective help all played significant roles. His story serves as a stark reminder of the importance of addressing mental health issues openly and providing support to those in need, particularly within the context of the digital age and the challenges faced by content creators in the online world.
What Did Keemstar Say to Etika?
Keemstar, whose real name is Daniel M. Keem, is a well-known American YouTuber, streamer, and podcast host famous for his show "DramaAlert," which covers news related to online popular culture. Born on March 8, 1982, in Buffalo, New York, Keemstar's heritage is mainly of Italian and Greek descent. However, his interactions with YouTuber Etika, born Desmond Daniel Amofah, on April 30 became a subject of controversy due to the sensitive nature of the conversation.
During the interview, Etika made alarming statements, referring to himself as the "antichrist" and expressing a disturbing desire to "purge all life" from Earth. Despite growing concerns from fans who pleaded for Keemstar to leave Etika alone, Keemstar proceeded with the interview.
Following the backlash, Keemstar later acknowledged his mistakes, admitting that he had said things that were "completely stupid and wrong." This demonstrated a recognition of his insensitivity and the gravity of the situation. Etika's mental state was clearly fragile during the interview, and the subsequent livestream he conducted on the same day, titled "Stupid Monkey," further raised concerns.
In this livestream, he consumed raw eggs while making monkey noises, emphasizing his erratic behavior and prompting discussions about his mental health. The interview and livestream collectively raised awareness about the challenges content creators face, especially in terms of mental health, public perception, and the potential impact of their words and actions on vulnerable individuals.
Is Etika Body Found?
Yes, Etika's body was indeed found. After being reported missing in June 2019, a search effort was launched by the New York Police Department (NYPD) and concerned fans and the online community. Etika, whose real name was Desmond "Etika" Amofah, had uploaded a video titled "I'm sorry" on his YouTube channel, which raised alarm due to its content and the emotional state he conveyed.
Tragically, on June 24, 2019, his body was discovered in the East River. His cause of death was determined to be suicide by drowning. This discovery confirmed the worst fears of his fans and the online community, and it marked the tragic end of his struggles with mental health issues.
Etika's passing shed light on the importance of addressing mental health challenges and providing support to individuals facing similar difficulties, especially within the context of the digital age and the unique challenges faced by content creators in the online realm. His legacy continues to inspire discussions about mental health awareness and the need for better resources and assistance for those in need.
Who was Etika?
Desmond Daniel Amofah, known by his online alias Etika, was an American YouTuber and online streamer, born on May 12, 1990, and believed to have passed away around June 19, 2019. He gained recognition for his enthusiastic reactions to Super Smash Bros. character reveals and Nintendo Direct presentations, as well as for his gameplay and reactions to various video games. Raised in Brooklyn, New York, he was the son of Ghanaian politician Owuraku Amofah.
Amofah's online journey began in 2007, and he established his primary YouTube channel, "EWNetwork" (Etika World Network), in 2012. His fanbase was affectionately known as the "JOYCONBOYZ," a nod to the Nintendo Switch's Joy-Con controller. His popularity soared after the release of Super Smash Bros. 4, largely due to his engaging videos discussing game-related news. His content centered around live streams, featuring game playthroughs, reaction videos, and pre-recorded content.
However, from late 2018 to 2019, Amofah exhibited signs of mental distress. He made multiple threats of suicide and was hospitalized several times. In October 2018, he uploaded explicit content to the EWNetwork channel, leading to its termination. Following this, he posted messages on social media hinting at suicide.
Despite issuing apologies, he created a new streaming channel, "EtikaFRFX," which met a similar fate in April 2019 due to the same reasons. His struggles became public, marked by cryptic posts on social media and livestreams that showed him being detained by the police.
Tragically, on June 20, 2019, Amofah was reported missing after uploading an apologetic video on his "TR1Iceman" channel. His body was later recovered from the East River on June 24. The New York City Police Department confirmed his death online the following day. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner concluded on June 26 that Amofah had drowned after jumping from the Manhattan Bridge.
Amofah's passing deeply affected his fans and fellow YouTubers, sparking discussions about the broader societal attitude toward mental health. Many observers noted that signs of Amofah's deteriorating mental state were either overlooked or underestimated prior to his tragic death. In the wake of his passing, memorials, murals, and tributes were established around New York City to honor his legacy as a prominent figure in the gaming community.
What Happened to Etika? - FAQs
Etika was reported missing after uploading an apologetic video on his "TR1Iceman" channel. His emotional state and content raised concerns among fans and fellow YouTubers.
Etika's body was found in the East River on June 24, 2019. The New York City Police Department confirmed his death online the following day.
Etika's death shocked and saddened fans and fellow YouTubers, sparking discussions about the importance of addressing mental health issues and providing support to individuals in need.
Keemstar, a fellow YouTuber and streamer, interviewed Etika on his show "DramaAlert." The interview was controversial due to Etika's concerning statements, and Keemstar's response to fan concerns stirred controversy.
Etika's case highlighted the need for increased awareness and support for mental health issues, particularly within the online content creator community, and exposed the challenges of recognizing and addressing mental distress.