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Melanie Martinez is grieving the loss of someone who once shaped her life.
The singer, 31, posted a heartfelt tribute on her Instagram Story Sunday following the death of her ex-boyfriend Oliver Tree, who was among six people killed in a helicopter crash near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 14. The pair dated from 2019 to 2020.
"Been an absolute wreck today," Martinez wrote, reflecting on the strange disorientation of losing someone tied to such a specific chapter of her past. She described Tree, born Oliver Tree Nickel, as someone whose commitment to his craft left a lasting impression on her.
Martinez recalled the joy and laughter that defined her memories of him, describing his sense of humor as infectious and his creative energy as a rare blend of leadership and playfulness. "His ability to lead creatively and take action while also maintaining a sense of childlike wonder and awe was so inspiring," she wrote, adding that he carried a gentleness that came through in everything he made.
She closed her message with a touch of the same humor Tree was known for, expressing hope that he was already finding ways to make mischief in the afterlife and sending him her love.
Tree, 32, was one of six victims when two helicopters reportedly collided midair over an electric vehicle lot in southwestern Rio, sparking a fire that engulfed roughly 20 vehicles at the crash site, according to local police cited by CNN Brazil.
The artist first emerged on the music scene in 2013 but found mainstream success with his 2020 album Ugly Is Beautiful. He was equally known for his bold, offbeat visual style, which he described as both a creative statement and a reflection of broader cultural absurdity. Speaking to Billboard in 2023, he explained that his unconventional approach was rooted in experimentation rather than imitation, framing it as an attempt to create something genuinely new rather than rehashing familiar ideas.
