Oliver Tree's ex Melanie Martinez reacts after his helicopter crash
Oliver Tree's ex Melanie Martinez reacts after his helicopter crash
Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAYMon, June 15, 2026 at 12:21 PM UTC
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Oliver Tree performs onstage during Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin on Oct. 16, 2022.
Singer Melanie Martinez is processing news of her former partner Oliver Tree's presumed fatal helicopter crash.
The "Play Date" singer-songwriter took to her Instagram stories on Sunday, June 14, hours after reports emerged from Brazil about the accident. Martinez, 31, said she'd been an "absolute wreck."
"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," Martinez said of the fellow singer. "He was so dedicated to his art which I admired and respected so deeply."
The 32-year-old alternative pop musician, born Oliver Tree Nickell, hailed from Santa Cruz, California, and rose to fame with 2021's "Life Goes On," which garnered a fanbase on TikTok and marked his debut on the Billboard Top 100 chart. His other popular tracks included "Miss You" off his 2023 album "Alone in a Crowd," which peaked at 84 on the Top 100.
Melanie Martinez attends The Drop: Melanie Martinez at Grammy Museum L.A. Live on April 8, 2026, in Los Angeles.
Nickell was in Brazil between stops on his Love You Madly, Hate You Badly World's First World Tour. He was on the list of passengers aboard one of two helicopters that went down after a mid-air collision that killed six people in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday morning, CNN Brazil and the reported, citing local police.
Rio de Janeiro's Military Fire Department confirmed to USA TODAY that the incident resulted in six fatalities after "the helicopters collided in mid-air and crashed into the parking lot of an electric car dealership, igniting a fire." Rio de Janeiro's State Civil Police Press Office confirmed an investigation is underway.
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More: Singer Oliver Tree presumed dead after Brazil helicopter crash
Martinez and Nickell reportedly dated from 2019 to mid-2020. A year later, Martinez confirmed their split, saying the breakup was mutual and that they remained on "good terms."
The "Dollhouse" singer, in her tribute, remembered Nickell's "contagious" laugh.
"I think everyone who knew him will look back at those moments of laughter and joy he so easily sparked," she said. "His ability to lead creatively and take action while also maintaining a sense of childlike wonder and awe was so inspiring. He had such a soft heart and was a true artist in every way."
She continued, "Rest in peace Oliver. I know you're making the angels giggle. I'll be here wondering what stunt and creative project you're scheming up in heaven. All my love."
Contributing: KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oliver Tree death – Ex Melanie Martinez reacts after helicopter crash
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
