TikTok Stars Who Have Sadly Passed Away

Trigger warning: This article contains details of suicide, domestic violence, and traumatic accidents. 

If you weren't a fan of the video-sharing app TikTok before the coronavirus pandemic took hold in 2020, chances are you made your way over to the app. In an era where we pretty much couldn't go outside or socialize with our friends, social media became even more prevalent in our lives than it already was — and that's saying a lot, given how much Instagram and Twitter have changed the nature of how we all communicate. But TikTok is different. With trends, catchy tunes and sounds, and duets and stitches, it's in a league all its own, so it's no surprise that some creators have found massive success on the platform.

Think of the D'Amelio girls, Addison Rae, Bella Poarch — these stars used TikTok to their advantage and have had massive success as a result. But sadly, some who've found fame on TikTok have since died. The app has seen the untimely departure of a number of its creators, some of whom have buckled to the pressures of social media or who were tragically in the wrong place at the wrong time. Here are TikTok stars who have sadly passed away.

It's safe to say that the TikTok world was shocked when Anthony Barajas, an engaging TikTok star with almost 1 million followers, was shot and killed at a screening of "The Forever Purge" film. As noted by BuzzFeed News, Barajas and companion Rylee Goodrich were attending the movie when a 20-year-old man, Joseph Jimenez, entered the screening and shot them both. Barajas and Goodrich were 19 and 18, respectively. Goodrich died as a result of her injuries at the scene, while Barajas was hospitalized before ultimately dying.

Jimenez was taken into custody shortly thereafter, as police found a firearm at his home that was a match to the gun used in the shooting. He faced charges including murder, attempted murder, and robbery, and was held in jail on a $2 million bail. Of the senseless killing, the police involved said that, due to statements taken, the attack was "unprovoked." 

A GoFundMe page was set up to help Barajas' family pay for medical bills and other expenses. On the page, he was described as an "amazing brother, son, and friend." It also read, "Anthony was the light of so many [people's] lives and there are tough times ahead, but we have amazing family and friends to get through this."

The world of social media and influencing looks to be all sunshine and rainbows, but it has a dark side that few talk about. Tragically, Brazilian influencer Eliane Ferreira Siolin fell into that side of social media. After she had shared a "revealing" post, according to some reports, her husband, Alejandro Antonio Aguilera Cantallupi, shot and killed her in January 2021. As noted by the New York Post, a police spokesperson, Analu Ferraz, revealed that the couple were known to fight "a lot, even in public." 

In the tragic turn of events, Siolin, 35, was shot 14 times and was killed in front of her young daughter while they were attending a family barbeque — her daughter was just 6. Cantallupi then turned the gun on himself and fatally shot himself once in the head. After this tragedy, the couple's young daughter was reportedly "taken in" by family members. Siolin had 84,000 followers on TikTok, and had amassed about 272,000 likes at the time of her death.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

An aspect of social media that many of us enjoy is the connection that it brings. When creators invite us into their lives, we become pretty invested. Alexis Sharkey, a 26-year-old who took to TikTok and other social media platforms to share content from her travels and life experiences, was one such creator. Sharkey had amassed 87,000 followers on Instagram and had 84,000 followers and 1.3 million likes on TikTok. Tragically, Sharkey's body was found amongst brush on the side of the road in Houston, Texas, on November 28, 2020, and her murder — ruled as death by strangulation — has remained unsolved, as noted by ABC13. 

No one has been arrested in connection to the murder thus far, and criminal defense attorney Tom Berg said that prosecutors are taking their time to ensure that the right suspect is brought to justice. "Simply closing the case quickly is not necessarily justice. You might have the right person but you might not," Berg said. "There can be a lot of pressure to resolve a case quickly. In our society, we want quick resolutions because, in television, you can solve these cases in an hour or less even with commercial breaks." 

Social media, for all its perks, can be a difficult terrain to navigate. As young people are growing and becoming their own people, the pressures associated with social media can add pressure to an already difficult time. With that in mind, the death of TikTok star Siya Kakkar is that much more heartbreaking, as it was reported that she died by suicide. As noted by India Today, Kakkar was a well known TikTok star and dancer, and she had amassed over 1.1 million followers on the app. She gained additional attention from her presence on many social media platforms, including Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat, and to anyone looking from the outside in, Kakkar's star was only rising. 

But the young creator tragically took her own life at just 16 years old. Her manager, Arjun Sarin, told India Today that her death was "due to something personal," as her work and career were just taking off. "I had a word with her last night for a new project and she sounded normal," Sarin said. "Siya was a bright talent. I am heading to her home in Preet Vihar."

Every death is impactful, and every loss of life is difficult to overcome, but the details surrounding the passing of Ram, known as Black Girl Rahm, are truly devastating. As noted by The U.S. Sun, Ram was a 30-year-old creator with nearly 800,000 followers on Douyin, what's called the "Chinese version of TikTok." She gained her following thanks to her videos detailing life in Sichuan, China, and her sweet demeanor certainly didn't hurt her. 

But as noted by the Daily Star, things went tragically down hill for the creator. Ram was at home when her ex-husband reportedly barged in and began attacking her in front of members of her family. Things escalated, and the ex reportedly set Ram on fire, all while the incident was being streamed live. The horrific attack left Ram with burns that covered approximately 90% of her body, and as a result, she went into a coma. As noted by The U.S. Sun, Ram was in a coma for 16 days before she tragically died. Ram's ex-husband had a history of domestic violence, and after attacking the creator, he was arrested on suspicion of intentional homicide. Ram's death left two young sons without their mother and left a community grieving after such a horrific loss.

An aspect of TikTok that makes it a great platform at times is the way in which people can connect to other people and personalities. John Kelly, a TikTok creator and exuberant personality who oftentimes made videos with his son, was one such person. Sadly, he died at the age of 45 in a very sudden manner. As noted by People, Kelly's death was a shock to his whole family, and his son, Tex, wrote on a GoFundMe page that the family would be "feeling the toll of [his death] for a very long time." 

"There was never a negative moment with him or a conversation that didn't end with 'I love you,'" Tex, who did not reveal more details about his father's passing, told People. "Dad was 45 years old when he passed but I'll tell ya, that man lived it with no regrets and he made sure to get the most out of every day." The creator's lasting legacy wouldn't be his videos or his followers, but rather his generous spirit, his kindness, and his selflessness, his son shared. Tex said, "He'd give you his last dollar and the clothes on his back if he knew you needed it."