Oliver Tree’s body returned to California after Rio de Janeiro helicopter crash
MANAGEMENT TELLS ME HE PLAYED HERE TWICE — AND WAS TRULY A LOCAL GEM. BEFORE HE WAS A GLOBAL SENSATION — OLIVER TREE WAS CAPTIVATING LOCAL AUDIENCES RIGHT HERE ON THE CENTRAL COAST. TONIGHT — THAT VERY SAME STAGE IS PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE SANTA CRUZ NATIVE — LEAVING FANS IN ABSOLUTE SHOCK. <“I WAS ACTUALLY, LIKE, IN SHOCK. I WAS LIKE, THERE’S NO WAY. AND PEOPLE IN, LIKE, REDDIT WERE SAYING LIKE, OH, IT’S NOT REAL. AND I WAS LIKE, CONFUSED” > <“WHENEVER I HEAR NEWS LIKE THAT, LIKE I’M 27 LIKE THAT, THAT’S LIKE CRAZY TO ME THAT SOMEONE THAT YOUNG COULD PASS.” > THE 32-YEAR-OLD WAS MIDWAY THROUGH A GLOBAL TOUR — WITH A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED HOMECOMING SHOW BOOKED AT THE QUARRY AMPHITHEATER THIS AUGUST. <“SANTA CRUZ IS A PRETTY SMALL COMMUNITY. AND SO YOU DON’T SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT GROW OUT, YOU KNOW, BEYOND, PLAYING NATIONAL TOURS AS MUCH, YOU KNOW, LET ALONE WORLDWIDE TOURS. AND SO, YEAH, IT WAS REALLY EXCITING. I KNOW HE HAD A LOT OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS AROUND HERE, AND, YEAH, WE WERE WAITING. HIS ARRIVAL” > WHILE THE COMMUNITY MOURNS A LOSS TIMED SO CLOSE TO HIS RETURN — FANS ARE SPENDING THE DAY REVISITING THE MEMORIES AND VIRAL VIDEOS THAT STARTED IT ALL. <“I WOULD LISTEN TO STUFF LIKE. LIKE ON DRIVES AND JUST, LIKE, WATCH HIS VINES AND, LIKE, RECREATE IT WITH MY FRIENDS. LIKE HIS SCOOTER VINES. I WOULD RECREATE IT AND JUST, LIKE, CONSTANTLY REFERENCE IT WITH MY FRIENDS> AND THROUGH ALL THE SUCCESS — FANS SAY HE’LL BE REMEMBERED BEST FOR THE WAY HE ALWAYS STAYED TRUE TO HIMSELF. <“HE JUST LIKE, WASN’T SCARED TO, LIKE, DO WEIRD THINGS, AND, LIKE, HE OBVIOUSLY, LIKE, HAD, LIKE, THE BOOK AND THEN TURNED IT INTO, LIKE, THE MULLET BOUQUET. AND IT WAS JUST LIKE HE WASN’T SCARED TO DO WEIRD THINGS AT A TIME WHEN, LIKE, EVERYTHING WAS LIKE, VERY LIKE NORMAL, NORMAL CORE.” > <“IF YOU LISTEN TO HIS MUSIC, YOU SEE, IS, LIVE PERFORMANCES, HIS PHOTOS. HE REALLY DID THAT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, AND THAT’S ALSO A TESTAMENT TO WHY I THINK HE WAS PLAYING SO MANY STAGES, WHY HE REACHED SO MANY FANS WORLDWIDE WAS BECAUSE PEOPLE CONNECTED TO THAT AND, YEAH, YEAH, I THINK PEOPLE ARE REALLY GOING TO MISS THAT SENSE OF AUTHENTICITY.” > FANS SAY THAT AUTHENTICITY WAS INSPIRING — AND THAT THE MUSIC WORLD HAS LOST A TRUE TALENT
Oliver Tree’s body returned to California after Rio de Janeiro helicopter crash
Updated: 5:27 PM PDT Jun 22, 2026
Oliver Tree’s body has been returned to California, according to a post shared Sunday on the artist’s official Instagram account.The Santa Cruz-born artist was one of six people who died in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro on June 14. He was 32.The post said, “Oliver is now back in California, where he can finally rest.”The message thanked supporters for the outpouring of love, tributes and support following Tree’s death, saying the response has helped his family, friends and collaborators through an extremely difficult time.It also said Tree’s legacy will live on through a foundation and endowment called “Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Grant For Baby Geniuses,” which the post said he created before his death and included in his will.“Love you all so much. Oliver would be so proud of every one of his supporters, friends and family. Peace be with Oliver,” the message ended.His mother, Christine Begin Nickell, also shared a tribute on social media, writing, “Our dear son Oliver, you made this world a better place. We are so proud of you. RIP.”
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. —
Oliver Tree’s body has been returned to California, according to a post shared Sunday on the artist’s official Instagram account.
The Santa Cruz-born artist was one of six people who died in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro on June 14. He was 32.
The post said, “Oliver is now back in California, where he can finally rest.”
The message thanked supporters for the outpouring of love, tributes and support following Tree’s death, saying the response has helped his family, friends and collaborators through an extremely difficult time.
It also said Tree’s legacy will live on through a foundation and endowment called “Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Grant For Baby Geniuses,” which the post said he created before his death and included in his will.
“Love you all so much. Oliver would be so proud of every one of his supporters, friends and family. Peace be with Oliver,” the message ended.
His mother, Christine Begin Nickell, also shared a tribute on social media, writing, “Our dear son Oliver, you made this world a better place. We are so proud of you. RIP.”