that's a lot of nuts guy from kung pow

21+ // nde // 🏳️‍⚧️ // eat shit // decolonize // smoke meth // hail satan

[Oliver Tree @Olivertree]

Oliver Nickell

June 29th, 1993 – June 14th, 2026

Oliver Tree Nickell, beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend, passed away in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Sunday, June 14, 2026, in a tragic accident at the age of 32. Known as Oliver Tree, he was an artist, storyteller, singer, songwriter, producer, director, editor, actor, filmmaker, entertainer, traveler and creative force; he had just performed in São Paulo as part of his 7-continent world tour.

Oliver was born in Santa Cruz, California. From the beginning, Oliver always had the most astonishing and relentless creative drive. He began producing skits, music, and drawings as early as 5 years old. He spent ten years racing BMX, cycle cross, cross country, mountain biking, downhill racing and free-style dirt jumping. Oliver was a DJ in his teenage years and started performing shows under the name "Kryph", where he opened up for big artists in the dance scene. At 17, he signed with R&S Records, under the moniker "Tree", where he put out his first official body of work "Splitting Branches”. During this period, he attended San Francisco State University and later graduated from the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in 2017. At CalArts, Oliver created the “Oliver Tree” project, which included producing, directing, acting, touring, film-making, and song-writing.

In 2016, “Turbo” was born, a character he developed for the internet, who was loud, colorful, bright and hilarious. That same year, he released his first single on all platforms as Oliver Tree, in collaboration with Whethan titled "When I'm Down". The song became a huge success and went gold. In 2017, Oliver signed with Atlantic Records and shortly after released his first viral hit song “Alien Boy” which was produced with his childhood friend Casey Mattson, as well as frequent collaborator Imad Royal. It was a song that truly encapsulated the Oliver Tree brand. Oliver then went on to release his debut album “Ugly Is Beautiful”, which hit the top 15 of Billboard 200 and reached number 1 on Billboard‘s Top Rock Albums and Alternative Albums charts. Oliver also released a deluxe version of the album which included the song "Life Goes On", a track that was produced with long-time friend and collaborator Getter. This song propelled Oliver into a global audience and was a commercial hit. Followed by the success of Oliver’s song "Miss You”, with Robin Schulz, which became a worldwide hit and was nominated for Best International Song (The BRIT Awards) in 2024.

Oliver never stopped reinventing himself. Each album featured a distinct character in the Oliver Tree universe: Turbo for “Ugly is Beautiful” in 2020, Shawney Bravo for “Cowboy Tears" in 2022, Cornelius Cummings for “Alone in A Crowd" in 2023 up until "Love You Madly Hate You Badly” in 2026, where he removed the fake personas and decided to show the world his true self for his final album which was 100% written and produced by Oliver.

Oliver had a deep curiosity about the world and wanted to experience every country and culture. Over the past two years, Oliver was a global citizen, visiting over 100 countries: eating local cuisine; connecting with locals of all kinds; participating in ceremonies; giving concerts; and recording music on his laptop. He went to the Middle East, sailed in Antarctica and became an honorary Maasai tribal chief in Tanzania.

Oliver was more than a musician; he was a true artist in every sense of the
word, seeing the world as a stage for his performance art. He pushed boundaries in every form of media and life. Oliver was on a mission to bring the world together through art and inspiring other artists to create. Being a forward thinker, Oliver created a non-profit entitled "Dr. Oliver Tree's Extremely Epic Art Grant for Baby Geniuses”. He wanted all of his money to go into funding other aspiring artists in all facets: music, film, installation and performance art projects.

Oliver cared so deeply about spreading art, joy, laughter and love into the world. He blended his characters seamlessly with his authentic self, which left the audience often wondering what is real or a prank. He found beauty in the ordinary and would constantly preach his "Ugly Is Beautiful" mantra on and off stage. He wanted everyone to feel like they had a place to be themselves. Under all the absurdist humor and outlandish stunts, he wanted to create an inclusive environment where everyone belonged and could realize their true potential.

Oliver was a creative force of nature, a true “Alien Boy” among human beings. His imagination was boundless, his laugh was contagious and his creativity and ideas were prolific.

Oliver is survived by his parents, Jesse & Christine Nickell of Santa Cruz, brother Jessup (Zoe), Grandmothers Ann Begin & Lorraine Nickell, Aunts Cynthia Begin, Mia Begin (Bill Schroeder), Uncle Dan Begin (Melissa), Aunts Sheree Kouffeld (Dave Christopher) and Jan Lamascus (Marvin), many beloved cousins, Beth, Breanna, Kaitlin, Kimmy, Maggie, Meadow and Nicolas; and numerous friends worldwide. He considered his team and colleagues his family: Dan Awad, Paul Donatelli; his bandmates: Casey Mattson, Amir Oosman, Jake Jamieson, Jmsey; his creative collaborators: Ethan Snoreck aka Whethan; Ryan Farber; Steve Zilberman; Jacob Dennis; Sebastian Hackett; his love Fiona Chernavskaya, as well as many others who touched his project and helped him execute his vision, who are too innumerable to be named.

We’ll leave you with a quote which Oliver said at almost every show he performed at, his mantra to the world: “No matter how strange you think you look, no matter how ugly you feel, you are beautiful.”

A celebration of his life / memorial service will be held at the UCSC Quarry Amphitheater on July 25th. Due to limited space for family and friends, this event will also be streamed live.

Donations: The family requests donations be made to “Dr. Oliver Tree's Extremely Epic Art Grant for Baby Geniuses”. Oliver’s vision is to support and encourage young artists to follow their dreams. See more at https://t.co/XY1lQhixpQ

[that's a lot of nuts guy from kung pow @pocketlasagna]

@mySA I mean art is art even if it's antisemitic. The issue is companies like @Ticketmaster and @LiveNation profitting so heavily off the work of artists while they do nothing but watch the public fight over bad words 🤷‍♂️

[that's a lot of nuts guy from kung pow @pocketlasagna]

@froggytonic

[Ethan Klein @h3h3productions]

I’m in disbelief… still desperate to think this is part of an elaborate prank. That seems like something he’d do, right? The truth is, no matter how desperate I am to not believe it, my friend Oliver has passed away.

Oliver was such a unique soul, he had an ability that was unmatched by anyone else I know; to make friends in all corners of the world. Sincere friendship too, not just internet friendships of convenience.

He was one of the funniest people I’ve ever known. His style of self-deprecation was universal. Every media appearance he’s ever done was hilarious, refreshing and unique in a way that only he could bring.

He was a true artist, in every sense of the word. Everything he brought into the world, he brought with his true self. Every time he would come on our show, it would involve weeks of lengthy conversations of planning and brainstorming. Ordinary was never an option. It had to be the best possible appearance. And it always was. 

Music and film were his true passions. He produced every music video, every song with every ounce of his soul. He spent every dime to bring his vision to life. He had no use for money beyond what it could do to improve his art. He used to laugh about how he annoyed his label because he was always hitting them up for cash advances for his next big project. 

His support team was composed of his childhood friends, proof that he was the type of person that was fiercely loyal to those he loved. The type of genuine person that kept the same friends for life. And he was always adding more and more friends along the way.

He spent the last year traveling the world. Traveling across every inch. Visiting places I would never dream of going. He wanted to know the world and all its people, all the different types of ways people lived, so he could become an even more profound artist. I could see him evolving, growing, maturing, and the essence of what he collected was clear: love, friendship, art. All the things that transcended borders and time. Last we spoke, he was planning to go to Antarctica. 

“I totally get it if you can’t but it will be really special and would mean the world if you came through! Would love to see you both.”

That was the last thing he ever said to me. He was having an album release party. We didn’t make it.

Everything he touched was better for it. Every person he met was more whole for it. As a person, I’ve lost a dear friend and collaborator. But the real tragedy is that the world lost a true artist, a passionate and gifted story teller, and a radiant light that shined upon so many of us. His light is now extinguished and my life, and the world, is darker for it. 

I hope I can be more like Oliver Tree when I grow up. Bon voyage, my friend. See you on the other side. Life goes on and on and on without you.

[Ethan Klein, host of the H3 Podcast (parody) @h3h3producitons]

RIP Oliver Tree. Heartbroken 💔

[that's a lot of nuts guy from kung pow @pocketlasagna]

RIP holy fuck this is tragic, he truly was a bright light in this world 😭

[Dexerto @Dexerto]

Singer Oliver Tree has reportedly died in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro

Two helicopters collided in mid-air before crashing into an electric vehicle yard, killing six people

via CNN Brasil

[that's a lot of nuts guy from kung pow @pocketlasagna]

@Dexerto he should share the file location of that .txt file on the analyzed drive then open the links on stream to prove it's nothing creepy🤷‍♂️

[that's a lot of nuts guy from kung pow @pocketlasagna]

@MontraMoth @yawnalert @AnisaTheGreasy

[that's a lot of nuts guy from kung pow @pocketlasagna]

@GetALoadOfThi5 @MarxistLabubu "yall love bringing up the nakba , like its happening in the 21st century. come on now"

[that's a lot of nuts guy from kung pow @pocketlasagna]

@MontraMoth @yawnalert @AnisaTheGreasy id rather vigorously jack off than shit puke out my ass to form whatever schizophrenic word salad that was lmao

[that's a lot of nuts guy from kung pow @pocketlasagna]

@Salvo1st I dont think it counts as defamation but cant fully confirm because I dont want "is it free speech to write pedophilic fanfic about a public figure's children?" in my search history

[that's a lot of nuts guy from kung pow @pocketlasagna]

@socialistadri code switching is scary indeed

[yzycel @yzycel]

When @KyrieIrving was under attack by the ADL in 2022, you were on stream smearing him as an antisemite and a “bitchmade pussy”

Now you want to collab for the clout? 😂

[that's a lot of nuts guy from kung pow @pocketlasagna]

@JakedChinatown ethan should go to charlies house and shoot him with a gun because they politely disagreed

[that's a lot of nuts guy from kung pow @pocketlasagna]

@ShaoIRL I became a fallen @hasanthehun fan after the millionth time he used "coalition-building" as a buzzword but has yet to shoutout a single mutual aid organization anywhere in the world

[that's a lot of nuts guy from kung pow @pocketlasagna]

@GianmarcoSoresi the only possible way for tony to evolve his comedy would be to invent new racial slurs. All the racial stereotypes that comprise his act have all been beaten to death already. Hopefully we find life in space so we can be racist towards it and innovate beyond george floyd jokes

[that's a lot of nuts guy from kung pow @pocketlasagna]

@Mike_from_PA asmon is an idiot cave-dwelling loser and somewhow @Mike_from_PA is still even more pathetic than him lol pls stick around, Mike, because whenever life gets me down you remind me that it could be so much worse

[that's a lot of nuts guy from kung pow @pocketlasagna]

@GetALoadOfThi5 @MarxistLabubu wait dont tell me youre a descendant of amerikkkan settlers who hasnt even bothered to do the most bare minimum research to find whose land your ancestors stole? you wanna scalp zio settlers but not the manifest destiny settlers??

[that's a lot of nuts guy from kung pow @pocketlasagna]

@caramelcolored "Everyone thinks I'm a lobotomized donkey blower, but I was only pretending 🧐 I'm actually just lying for attention!" masterful gambit sir