Chris O’Donnell left behind a haunting message on Instagram before his tragic death.
The 31-year-old fitness influencer, known online as Creeohdee, passed away on Saturday (11 January) according to an online obituary.
O’Donnell had amassed a massive following on social media, with over 875,000 fans on TikTok, 28.7 million likes, and 247K Instagram followers.
He was known for his outdoor adventures, fitness content, and candid discussions on mental health.
According to PEOPLE, the Maricopa Medical Examiner disclosed that the TikToker’s cause of death was ruled a suicide. They confirmed that he died from a gunshot wound to the head.
In November 2024, the social media star took to his social media platforms to share a deeply poignant reel showing clips from his hiking adventures.
Set against a backdrop of serene landscapes, he reflected on how he would be remembered after his passing in the caption of his Instagram post. “I wonder when I leave this earth, when I leave the rat race, when I’m lying in the dirt, if you’d remember my face,” he wrote.
The reel begins with a video of O’Donnell canoeing on a lake, smiling as he takes in the view. It transitioned into snippets of his global travels, from snowy hikes to desert drives.
The clip also showed moments of joy such as playing with a dog, singing along to Curtis Waters’ Manic Man in a studio, and embracing the thrill of life.
Many of the influencer’s followers have taken to the comment section of the post to share their heartbreaking tribute message. “We will brother…You are so deeply loved man. Everyone misses you. Really wish I could have gotten to know you better. Gave your mom a tight hug,” one user penned.
“I’ll always remember you brother. Rest in peace,” another responded. “May the views be even better up there for you Chris,” a third added.
One of O’Donnell’s closest friends, Morgan Ballou, shared a heart-shattering message on the late star’s obituary page.
“Chris, I’ll love you forever. You’ve been a light in my life since we met in 2016. I wish we would’ve moved to CA together in 2021 like we talked about. I wish we kept in touch more than just online every few weeks. I have so many wishes. In the end, I wish you peace. My heart is broken. All the love and thoughts in the world to your family and Blue,” they said.
Fellow TikToker Kevin Clevenger, known as Iron Sanctuary, shared a touching video tribute filled with memories.
He captioned it: “One day I’ll find peace in knowing you’re not in pain anymore, but today my heart aches that you’re gone. I love you.”
The fitness star used his platform to talk about mental health and substance abuse, sharing his own struggles to inspire others. He got sober in 2018 and had been an outspoken advocate for those battling the same addiction.
In a pinned Instagram post, he opened up about his journey, writing: “I am a two-time college dropout. I have worked more jobs than I can count, all the way from being a pool boy in Florida to being covered in fish guts for 20 hours per day in a salmon processing plant in Alaska.”
“I have experienced many different walks of life in my short span of time here on earth, and I love learning about other cultures and beliefs that make me challenge my own,” he continued. “I love beauty, and I find nothing more beautiful than the world we live in.”
O’Donnell also spoke about his passion for the outdoors and his love for animals, especially his two dogs, Blue and Riley, who accompanied him on many of his adventures.
His final TikTok post was a beautiful speech he gave at his brother’s wedding, which he said he thought about while “reminiscing on old memories”.
The content creator penned in the overlay text that the scene was “one of my proudest moments as a brother, being able to send these two off into the next chapter of their lives”.
Our thoughts are with Chris’ loved ones at this time.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.
