YouTube and Smash Bros personality Etika found dead, fans mourn loss
Popular YouTube personality Desmond “Etika” Amofah has been found dead after being reported missing over a week ago.
The New York Police Department had been searching for Etika ever since he posted a “goodbye” video, discussing his regrets and apologizing to friends, family, and former fans. Up until that point, many in the Smash community had been laughing at Etika’s expense, finding humor in his off-the-rails rants about being the antichrist and concerning Twitter rants, which included slurs and antisemetic statements. Some even speculated that the disappearance was a publicity stunt, even when Etika’s belongings were discovered on the side of the Manhattan Bridge on Saturday night.
The death has been ruled a suicide.
Etika was famous in Super Smash Bros. circles for his over-the-top reactions. Just check out his reaction at :53 to get a good sample of Etika’s entertaining YouTube content before his channel was taken down.
While Etika has always been open about his struggles with mental health, it was his behavior in the last 10 months that really started to worry his fans. In October of 2018, Etika violated YouTube’s guidelines by uploading pornographic material to his channel. When his channel was subsequently deactivated, Etika stated it was “time to die.”
He moved on to Twitch, where he continued to enjoy a big following. But this was ended shortly thereafter for the same infraction, with his account getting shut down again. Etika moved to Instagram.
In April, Etika live-streamed a standoff he had with New York Police after they responded to some of his more concerning tweets. At the time, the police told Kotaku that Etika was “threatening suicide in the apartment.” Since he had a history of mental health issues, the police were taking the threat very seriously.
Etika was transported to a hospital in Brooklyn. His ex-girlfriend, Alice Pika, reassured both fans and critics that he was indeed alive and breathing.
After the goodbye video was released, many YouTubers, including Daniel “Keemstar” Keem, tweeted out support for Etika. Despite previously mocking Etika on his own channel, Keemstar tweeted to Etika that “people will be happy to know you are alive and safe somewhere.”
Pika shared a
video
of Etika leading up to the NYPD’s devastating discovery. Fans also shared their own memories of Etika’s content, and many expressed sadness over his passing while urging others to stop the trolling. YouTube Creators sent out a tweet this morning that stated, “We mourn the loss of Etika, a beloved member of our gaming creator community. All of us at YouTube are sending condolences to his loved ones and fans.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts, reach out to the
Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Olivia Richman
About Olivia Richman
Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.
View full profile
Read Also
Dota 2
Dota 2 TI15 prize pool – What is The International 2026’s prize pool amount?
Michael Hassall
The International is the most prestigious Dota 2 event of the year, the pinnacle of the game, and for many years, the highest prize pool in all of esports. But is TI15 following the same pattern? For many years TI was a crowd-funded prize pool with tens of millions of dollars on the line, but has dropped significantly since then. Since Valve’s decision to shift away from the battle pass ...
Movies & TV
PlaqueBoyMax and N3on To Stream With Hollywood Actor Mark Wahlberg
Khizar Mundia
The streaming community is abuzz with news about Maxwell “PlaqueBoyMax” Dent and Rangesh “N3on” Mutama both collaborating with Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg. Streamers have started entering mainstream media, with the clearest example being Darren “iShowSpeed” Watkins Jr., who livestreamed the FIFA World Cup 2026. He isn’t the only one, as Kai Cenat is another creator who recently held the Streamer University 2026, which Meta, Dell, Red Bull, and more sponsored. ...
Twitch
Jynxzi’s Rainbow Six Siege Tournament: Format, Date and Roster
Khizar Mundia
Nicholas “Jynxzi” Stewart’s Rainbow Six Siege tournament is about to start, and this time Ubisoft is also supporting the event. With the roster now confirmed, Twitch drops will also be available to viewers throughout the stream. Jynxzi is best known for his Rainbow Six Siege content, even though he regularly plays several other games, including GTA 5. The streamer still revisits Rainbow Six Siege both on stream and through the tournaments ...
Dota 2
Teams travelling to TI15 had to contend with a Typhoon that flooded the streets of Shanghai
Michael Hassall
It’s not often that the elements themselves conspire against Dota 2 players, but as players started to head to China for TI15, some were left stranded by the arrival of Typhoon Dolphin to the eastern China coast. OG and other teams, potentially including PARIVISION (competing at TI as Team VISION), seemingly found themselves with extended layovers as Shanghai Airport cancelled flights in the wake of Typhoon Dolphin. While all the ...
GTA
Trade on Which Songs Will Make It Onto the GTA 6 Radio at Kalshi — Use Promo Code WINGGPREMAR
Zachary Roberts
Like all previous games in the series, GTA 6 will have an extensive in-house array of radio stations which will be a major part of gameplay. The radio adds a lifelike wrinkle to Grand Theft Auto games whenever you get in a vehicle, which, as the franchise name suggests, is pretty often. Some players enjoy just riding around the setting of the game listening to music. GTA 5 and Online ...
Dota 2
The International 2026 schedule: Dota 2 TI15 full schedule and day-by-day
Michael Hassall
The International 2026, TI15, is finally here, and with the event starting it’s time to watch the greatest Dota 2 teams from around the globe compete for the game’s ultimate prize: The Aegis of Champions. With TI15 taking place in Shanghai, China, and in a completely different timezone for many of its viewers, the schedule and timings can be a bit hard to follow. That’s why we’ve put together a ...
Twitch
Kai Cenat and iShowSpeed Minecraft Marathon: Rules and Highlights So Far
Khizar Mundia
Kai Cenat and Darren “iShowSpeed” Watkins Jr.’s much-awaited Minecraft marathon is now live, with the pair revealing the event's rules. While the two haven’t been faring well in their mission, fans are invested to see whether they can complete the marathon, which is being streamed on YouTube and Twitch. Here is a look at the rules for Kai Cenat and iShowSpeed’s 2026 Minecraft marathon, as well as some of the ...
