Oliver Tree’s first trip to Brazil is being revisited through the social posts he shared in the days before a deadly helicopter collision in Rio de Janeiro.
The 32-year-old singer, born Oliver Tree Nickell, appeared in a joint Instagram video with Brazilian influencer Iae Break one day before the June 14 crash that killed six people, according to People.
The video was posted before the crash and was not connected to the flight. It showed Tree joking around during his visit, including a soccer gag and other casual moments from his time in Brazil.
Rio Civil Police later listed Tree among the victims, according to CNN Brasil. The Associated Press used more cautious wording, reporting that police said Tree was on the passenger list given to aviation authorities, while the bodies had not yet been formally identified at the time of its report.
Tree Shared a Playful Brazil Video One Day Before the Crash
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People reported that Tree and Iae Break shared a joint Instagram video captioned, “An American’s first time in Brazil.” The clip showed Tree getting a haircut, jokingly calling himself “Neymar” while holding a replica FIFA World Cup trophy, riding a motorcycle, and grilling meat during the visit.
The post fit the visual style Tree had built across his career, mixing music, comedy, costumes, physical gags, and internet performance. His videos often leaned into exaggerated characters and strange comic setups rather than standard pop-star promotion.
After the crash, Iae Break shared another post featuring several photos of himself with Tree in Brazil, People reported. The outlet said the Brazilian creator wrote in Portuguese that he could not believe they were gone.
The posts have drawn new attention because they show Tree’s final public days in Brazil. They were not posted as farewell messages, and the cause of the crash remained under investigation.
Authorities Said Two Helicopters Collided Over Rio
CNN Brasil reported that Rio Civil Police listed six victims after two helicopters collided over the Recreio dos Bandeirantes area of Rio de Janeiro on Sunday morning: Tree, Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim, Lucas Brito Chaves, pilot Alexandre Souza, and pilot Charles Marsillac.
Five people were in one helicopter, while Marsillac was alone in the other aircraft, according to CNN Brasil. The outlet reported that the helicopters fell into a vehicle yard on Avenida das Américas and that about 20 cars caught fire after the crash.
AP reported that Rio de Janeiro’s Military Fire Department said one helicopter crashed into a car dealership parking lot where electric vehicles were parked, igniting a fire that was later extinguished. Officials said an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the collision.
The case is being handled by Rio’s 42nd Police Precinct, according to CNN Brasil. Brazil’s air accident investigation center, CENIPA, was called to the scene, while ANAC, Brazil’s civil aviation agency, said it was reviewing the status of the aircraft and pilots involved.
He Had Been Touring Before the Collision
Tree was on tour before the Rio crash. People reported that he had performed in São Paulo on June 6, and AP reported that he performed in Buenos Aires on June 4.
People reported that Tree’s official website listed Lisbon, Portugal, as his next scheduled show on July 1. The site also promoted his latest studio album, Love You Madly Hate You Badly, released on April 24.
Tree released his debut album, Ugly Is Beautiful, in 2020, followed by Cowboy Tears and Alone in a Crowd. His better-known songs included “Life Goes On,” “Miss You,” and “When I’m Down.”
People reported that the other people killed in the crash included Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim, known as Gaspi, Lucas Vignale, Lucas Brito Chaves, and the two pilots. AP reported that Argentine streaming channel Blender said Gaspi, whose full name was Gaspar Prim Díaz, was 23 and had more than 2.8 million YouTube followers.