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anti-bullying June 25, 2019
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Creative gamer Etika found dead after struggle with mental health

The gamer world mourned today after the New York Police department confirmed the death of popular Nintendo Switch YouTube star, Desmond “Etika” Amofah. He was 29.

“We regret to inform that Desmond Amofah aka Etika has been found deceased,” the department’s Twitter handle announced.

Amofah’s body was found in Manhattan’s East River after going missing last week. Officials recovered his body two days after finding his belongings on the Manhattan Bridge.

Now his fans are saying that last week he had published a video that appeared like a suicide note to his YouTube channel TR1Iceman in which he appeared to express suicidal thoughts.

“I’m sorry for leaving such a stained legacy”

He said in a video, which has been reposted by other users on YouTube. “I hope that my story maybe helps to make YouTube a better place in the future where people know boundaries and limits and how far things should go.”

https://twitter.com/Videogameboypro/status/1141802548199866381

Born in Brooklyn, New York. Etika gained his following by posting YouTube videos and live-streams of mainly Nintendo content. He began creating videos on YouTube in 2012, and in less than a decade, amassed a following of over 800,000 dedicated fans across YouTube and Twitch.

It wasn’t until Oct. of last year that Erikah started to show signs that he was struggling with mental health.

He got his primary YouTube account terminated for “multiple or severe violations of YouTube’s policy on nudity or sexual content,” according to the video platform after uploading porn to his channel, costing him his base.

After, Amofah posted a message on Reddit saying in part, “And now, it’s my turn to die. I love you all.” Then it really went downhill from there.

In April, he live-streamed a standoff with police in Brooklyn after he had allegedly threatened to harm himself, Kotaku reported. In May, Amofah had an altercation with a security guard or police officer that led to another hospital visit.

Then came the video last week, which YouTube took down, apparently saying goodbye to fans. “It was a fun life,” he said. “I had a great time. It was great. But for it to be cut so short—it’s fucked.”

Policed reportedly responded to a person floating in the water and it was upon arriving that they discovered an unresponsive, unidentified male that ended up being Etika.

https://twitter.com/pewdiepie/status/1143573270823915520

Many saw the antics leading up to his death as publicity stunts while others argue they were cries for help, but the truth of the matter is that we should constantly be checking up on one another all the same.

As the community mourns, it’s important we check up on ourselves as well as others and know that it can happen to anyone.

The National Suicide Prevention Hotline in the U.S. is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-273-8255. A list of international suicide hotlines can be found here.

anti-bullying December 11, 2017
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Shout out to Keaton Jones, the brave kid speaking out against bullying

Many celebrities have come out to support a young boy by the name of Keaton Jones from Knoxville, Tennessee.

You’ve probably seen the video again and again over the weekend, but just in case you haven’t, (or you’re a masochist who like to feel your heart ripping out of your chest) here it is:

The video shows Keaton in a tearful discussion with his mother regarding bullying at his school.

“Just out of curiosity, why do they bully? What — what’s the point of it?”

During lunch, students would throw bread and pour milk on him. And as if that wasn’t heart-wrenching enough, he ends the video with the most positive advice he could think of:

“If you’re being made fun of, don’t let it bother you. Stay strong I guess. It’s hard. It will probably get better one day.”

Well, he was right.

It started with Snoop Dogg sharing Keaton’s video, and then extending his own support for the brave child.

UFC President Dana White saw the video and invited Keaton to Vegas to come hang.

Chris Evans invited Keaton and his mother to next year’s Avengers premiere.

Titans tight end Delanie Walker did the same inviting them to a home game.

This led to an outpouring of even more celebs who have reached out to Keaton and shared their own responses on the bullying.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV_U8BsVnIY

The hashtag #StandWithKeaton has also been trending on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/ProjectBuddy/status/940026779669950464

Of course Cardi B had some choice words for Keaton’s bullies.

LeBron knows what’s good!

Keaton has inspired so many people with his words, a GoFundMe page for his college career has been started and surpassed the goal set already.

We’ve seen too many victims of bullying appear on social media. Four days ago we witnessed beloved adult film star August Ames take her life in what was a result of a cyber-bullying attack.

Although Keaton was a target himself, he can now say that he has many friends all over the world who will be there with him throughout the rest of his life.

Keaton, you are one of a kind for opening up. We know you’ll never have to worry about bullying again!

As for the Keaton’s mother, we’ll leave this here: