Alternative-pop singer Oliver Tree is presumed dead after a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro following a mid-air collision that killed six people. Local police investigations are underway, and forensic identification is pending.
The news came out of Rio de Janeiro on a quiet Sunday—then suddenly became impossible to ignore. Oliver Tree, the California alternative-pop singer known for his signature bowl cut, is now presumed dead after a helicopter accident in Brazil.
Tree, 32, was listed as a passenger aboard one of two helicopters that went down after a mid-air collision in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, June 14, CNN Brazil and the Associated Press reported, citing local police. Six people were killed in the crash.
A spokesperson for Rio de Janeiro’s State Civil Police Press Office confirmed that an investigation is underway in Recreio dos Bandeirantes to determine “the causes of the aircraft crash. ” according to a Portuguese statement delivered to the U.S. publication. Following a forensic examination at the scene, a report is pending from the Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center.
For the victims’ families, the hardest part may come next: the bodies of the six victims “will undergo forensic examination for identification.” Tree’s representatives have been contacted for comment.
Tree is not just known for performances and recordings—he is also tied to a touring schedule that had been moving forward even days earlier. He performed in São Paulo on June 6 as one of the stops on the Love You Madly. Hate You Badly World’s First World Tour. His album, “Love You Madly Hate You Badly,” was released April 24. His next scheduled date was listed for July 1 in Lisbon on his website.
Two months before the Brazil show, he had made a surprise appearance during Weekend 1 of Coachella, joining Subtronics for a performance on the Sahara Stage.
Tree. born Oliver Tree Nickell. is from Santa Cruz and rose to fame with “Life Goes On” in 2021. which built a fanbase through TikTok. In his Spotify bio. he described himself as “an internet-based vocalist. producer. writer. director and performance artist” who explored “the intersection where pop and alternative meet sonically.”.
His other popular tracks include “Miss You” from his 2023 album “Alone in a Crowd,” and “Alien Boy.”
The sequence now unfolding in Rio—searching for causes. pending an official report. and waiting for forensic identification—lands on a timeline that had already placed him in motion across continents. For fans following the tour dates and the new music rollout. the crash has interrupted something that was still visibly scheduled to continue.
This story is developing.
Oliver Tree Brazil helicopter crash Rio de Janeiro mid-air collision Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center Recreio dos Bandeirantes Life Goes On Love You Madly Hate You Badly Coachella São Paulo Lisbon