ETIKA was a hugely popular YouTuber who would have turned 32 years old on May 12, 2022.
Three years after his passing and friends, family and fans still remember the online personality.
Who was Etika?
Etika, whose real name was Desmond Daniel Amofah, was best known for posting reaction videos to Nintendo Direct presentations on YouTube.
The American had over 145million views on his videos and over 1.3m subscribers on the platform.
Etika also streamed on Twitch and had previously been a model and rapper before becoming a YouTube personality.
He had been living in Brooklyn, New York City.
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Etika began his YouTube career in 2006 but his popularity really took off in 2012 through his main channel "EWNetwork" (meaning "Etika World Network").
How did Etika die?
He died on June 19, 2019, after taking his own life on the East River in New York City.
According to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, the YouTuber was believed to have jumped from the Manhattan Bridge and drowned.
His body was discovered on June 24, 2019, along with a backpack and phone believed to have been his.
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On June 19, 2022, a memorial account dedicated to Etika tweeted:
"It's now been 3 years since the passing of Desmond "Etika" Amofah. Hard to believe it has already been this long. Thank you everyone for the support.
"The Joycon Boyz will continue to strive. Take care of yourself, and look out for one another. Be there for the ones that need it."
Family, friends and fans flooded Twitter with heartfelt words.
One user wrote: "It just ain’t the same without him :/ RIP etika. Love and miss you so much."
What did Etika post days before his death?
Etika had allegedly posted concerning content on his YouTube channel, speaking about death and mental health.
Prior to his death, he had shared an apologetic video and admitted to feeling suicidal and battling mental illness.
He said: “I’ve lived an incredible life filled with thrills and happiness.
“Even though I always was an odd ball out, I used that as my strength and brought together an incredible community of insane wild bois just like me.
“God I’ll miss you all so much.”
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Adding: “My time ends now, but if there is a way for me to, I’ll send you all as many blessings as I can from the other side.”
YouTube later removed the video for “violating Community Guidelines."
You’re not alone
SUICIDE is the 10th leading cause of death in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Leading Causes of Death Report from 2018.
There were "more than two and half times as many suicides" in the US than there were homicides, according to the report.
For people ages 10 and 34, suicide was the "second leading cause of death" and the fourth for individuals ages 35 to 54.
Suicide is a vital health concern in the U.S. It affects all genders, races and ages.
This is why The-Sun.com launched the You're Not Alone campaign.
The campaign calls on readers to discuss their mental health issues with their family, friends and health professionals. We can all pitch in to help out others who may be suffering and help save lives.
If you are struggling to cope, you are not alone. There are many free and confidential programs in the US aimed to help those who are struggling with their mental health.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health problems, these organizations are here to provide support:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org, 1-800-273-TALK
- Crisis Text Line, www.crisistextline.org, Text HOME to 741741
- Veterans Crisis Hotline, www.veteranscrisisline.net, 1-800-273-8255
- Trevor Project, www.thetrevorproject.org, 1-866-488-7386
What did people say about Etika’s death?
On Wednesday, May 12, Etika's birthday, Twitter users posted tributes to honor his life.
One user wrote: “Today, Desmond Amofah, aka Etika will have turned 31 years old.
“He was and still is my inspiration in life, I’ll never forget all of the great memories + advice you’ve given me, + I’ll never forget you.
“It’s still unreal you’re gone. Rest In Peace Etika~ JOYCON BOYZ FOREVER.”
Another said: “happy birthday @Etika. it still just isnt fair. hope you are still watching.”
A third replied: “Happy Birthday Etika. I wish so f*** badly that you were still around. It was too soon. But the spirit & hype lives on with everyone, I promise.
“Hope you’re having a damn good one up there.”
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.
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