Oliver Tree’s mother has paid tribute to her son following his tragic death.
The 32-year-old singer was one of six people killed in the mid-air collision between two helicopters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, earlier this month.
Tributes have been flooding in from those in the showbiz world, as well as friends and family, with Oliver’s mother Christine Begin Nickell the latest to share a heartbreaking post remembering her son.
Sharing a childhood picture of Oliver on Facebook, she wrote alongside it: “Our dear son Oliver, you made this world a better place. We are so proud of you. RIP.”
Christine’s Facebook post came after Oliver’s ex Melanie Martinez, who dated the Miss You singer after years of friendship, took to her Instagram Stories to pay tribute to her ex and his “sense of childlike wonder and awe”.
She wrote: “Been an absolute wreck today. It’s really hard to understand how someone who you once shared such a specific and formative time of your life with can all of a sudden be gone.
“He was so dedicated to his art which I admired and respected so deeply.”
Oliver was killed alongside 23-year-old YouTuber Gaspi - real name Gaspar Prim - 23, Brazilian DJ Lucas Frota, whose real name is Lucas Brito, two pilots and one other passenger in the collision.
Their deaths were confirmed by police on Thursday (18.06.26), with a spokesperson for the state of Rio de Janeiro saying in a statement: “The last body identified was that of the American Oliver Tree.
“Brazilians Lucas Brito, Charles Marsillac, and Alexandre Souza, as well as Argentinians Gaspar Prim and Lucas Vignale, were also identified.”
The Rio de Janeiro Military Fire Department told the Associated Press that after the aircraft collided, they crashed into an electric car dealership.
One of the helicopters exploded after the crash, causing a fire that then spread through 20 of the vehicles at the dealership.
An investigation into the crash is underway, with the Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center expected to issue a report in due course.
Oliver was in the midst of a world tour that began on May 30 in Mexico City, in support of his new album Love You Madly, Hate You Badly. He announced the tour on X last month, writing at the time: “The world’s first world tour 7 continents. 40+ countries. 6 months of beautiful chaos. See you out there.”
