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Michael Duarte, a California-based food influencer known to millions as \u201cFoodWithBearHands,\u201d was killed this past weekend in what was described as a \u201chorrible accident.\u201d<\/p>\n
The content creator died while traveling in Texas on Saturday, Nov. 8, according to a GoFundMe<\/a>. Duarte died just three days after he and his wife Jessica celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been 24 hours since my world came crashing down. I\u2019m numb, angry, depressed. Words can\u2019t describe this kind of pain. I never thought I would be writing this,\u201d Jessica wrote in an Instagram post<\/a> on Sunday, Nov. 9.<\/p>\n \u201cTo the world you were foodwithbearhands but to us you were a loving husband and father. You didn\u2019t deserve this. I will love you forever and I will be strong for our daughter and I know how much you loved us,\u201d she continued. \u201cIf everyone can stop and please pray for our family. To my husband I will miss you\u2026until we meet again.”<\/p>\n Alooma Media Group, Duarte\u2019s talent agency, also confirmed the influencer\u2019s death in an Instagram post<\/a> on Sunday as well.<\/p>\n \u201cMichael was so much more than a client to us at Alooma. He was a true & loyal partner, a trusted collaborator, and above all, a remarkable person. His passion, professionalism, and creativity left a lasting mark not only on our team but on everyone who had the privilege of working with him,\u201d the agency wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cBeyond his professional accomplishments, Michael was a devoted husband to his wife Jessica, a loving father to his daughter, brother and a loyal friend to so many around the world. His warmth, kindness, and generosity were felt in every interaction, and he had a way of making everyone around him feel valued and inspired,\u201d Alooma continued. \u201cMichael\u2019s passing is a tremendous loss to all who knew him. His legacy of integrity, compassion, and dedication will continue to live on through the lives he touched. From all of us at Alooma, our hearts go out to Jessica, their daughter, and everyone who is mourning this loss. Michael will be deeply missed but never forgotten.\u201d<\/p>\n Duarte garnered a following of roughly 2 million across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube for posting BBQ and grilling videos. His Instagram bio<\/a> stated his purpose was \u201cto share to the world food to people who need it the most.\u201d<\/p>\n His path to social media began in Calipatria, California, where he started cooking at age 14 in his uncle\u2019s Mexican restaurant. Duarte later worked in restaurants around San Diego before turning to content creation during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n The content creator is survived by his wife and their 6-year-old daughter, Oakley. The purpose of the GoFundMe is to cover the costs of bringing Duarte back home to California and funeral expenses.<\/p>\n \u201cDuring this time, and in the months\/years ahead, we want to make sure that Jessica and Oakley are taken care of as Michael would have wanted them to be. Your support would bring comfort, stability, and a reminder that they are not carrying this weight alone,\u201d the campaign read. \u201cThe family deeply thanks you for your love and support as they grieve through this tragic loss.\u201d<\/p>\n As of Wednesday, the GoFundMe has raised more than $65,000 of its $100,000 goal.<\/p>\n Read the original article on MassLive<\/a>. Add MassLive<\/a> as a Preferred Source by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nMore Celebrity News<\/span><\/h2>\n