Lead
Food and barbecue creator Michael Duarte, known online as Food With Bear Hands, died on Saturday while traveling with his family in Texas, just three days after he and his wife marked their ninth wedding anniversary. The family, including his wife Jessica and their 6-year-old daughter Oakley, have launched a GoFundMe to cover repatriation and funeral costs. The fundraiser described the loss as a “horrible incident” but did not list a cause of death. Funeral arrangements remain undecided as the family and representatives share statements and begin to grieve publicly.
Key Takeaways
- Michael Duarte, known as Food With Bear Hands, died on Saturday while traveling with family in Texas; the death occurred three days after his ninth wedding anniversary.
- A GoFundMe launched to help Duarte’s wife, Jessica, and their daughter Oakley has raised nearly $65,000 toward a $100,000 goal as of Wednesday.
- The online campaign and public posts label the event a “horrible incident” but provide no verified cause of death.
- Duarte began cooking in his teens in Calipatria, Calif., later moving to San Diego and advancing from dishwasher to restaurant manager before becoming a social media creator.
- He credited a mental-health crisis and subsequent rehab during the COVID-19 lockdown for prompting him to post cooking videos; featuring his daughter helped turn the hobby into a career.
- His talent agency, Alooma Media Group, issued a formal statement mourning his passing and noting his impact on colleagues and clients.
- Public reaction on social platforms includes tributes from his wife and followers, reflecting a sizable online community built over years.
Background
Michael Duarte grew up in Calipatria, California, a small city near the U.S.–Mexico border. He started in food service at 14 at his uncle’s restaurant, Nana Dora’s, then moved to San Diego at 18 where he worked in multiple restaurant roles and rose to management. Those early years established both his culinary foundation and his work ethic, shaping the skills he later displayed online.
During the COVID-19 lockdown Duarte described reaching a breaking point that led to a period in rehab; after recovery he began posting cooking videos. The pivot to social media accelerated when he started including his daughter, Oakley, in content — an element he said made the work truly fulfilling and helped him grow a large following. Over time he became best known for grilling and barbecue techniques, posting under the handle Food With Bear Hands.
Main Event
The family was traveling in Texas when Duarte died on Saturday; public materials state the death happened “just three short days” after the couple’s ninth anniversary. The GoFundMe created to support Jessica and Oakley cites urgent needs: repatriating Duarte’s remains to California and covering funeral costs, while asking for broader assistance as the family adjusts to a sudden loss. It does not provide details about the circumstances that led to the death.
Jessica Duarte posted an emotional tribute on Instagram the day after his death, describing a 24-hour shift from normal life to profound grief and urging prayers for the family. Her post framed Michael first as a husband and father and second as the public creator followers knew, and it emphasized the shock and pain of the loss. The couple’s child, Oakley, is six years old and has featured in many of Duarte’s videos.
Alooma Media Group, Duarte’s talent agency, released a separate statement calling him a valued client and friend whose passion and creativity left a lasting mark on colleagues. The agency’s message underscored both professional loss and personal sorrow, while promising to respect the family’s privacy as arrangements are decided. At the time of reporting, funeral plans remain undecided and the cause of death is not publicly confirmed.
Analysis & Implications
The sudden death of a mid-profile creator highlights the precarious financial and logistical pressures families can face when an income earner dies unexpectedly, especially when travel and repatriation are involved. Crowdfunding is a common immediate response in creator communities, but it also exposes unequal safety nets for gig-economy earners and independent creators who lack employer-provided benefits. The GoFundMe effort reflects both community solidarity and the raw gaps in emergency preparedness for digital creators.
For followers and brand partners, the loss raises questions about continuity of content, intellectual property, and monetization tied to a single creator’s persona. Agencies and collaborators must balance honoring a creator’s legacy with contractual obligations and the practicalities of unfinished partnerships. Brand deals, sponsored content pipelines, and multi-platform accounts often require swift coordination after an unexpected death.
There is also a reputational and mental-health dimension: Duarte’s prior openness about a mental-health crisis during the pandemic underscores the need for better support structures for creators who often face irregular schedules and public scrutiny. Platforms, sponsors, and agencies may face renewed pressure to offer mental-health resources and clearer contingency plans for talent in crisis.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| GoFundMe raised | Nearly $65,000 |
| GoFundMe goal | $100,000 |
| Social following | Hundreds of thousands (Food With Bear Hands) |
The table above summarizes the immediate public metrics: the fundraiser’s progress toward a six-figure target and the broad scale of Duarte’s following, described in reports as “hundreds of thousands.” Those figures illustrate how quickly a creator’s community can mobilize financial support, even as exact audience size and revenue streams vary by platform and monetization mix.
Reactions & Quotes
Jessica Duarte’s Instagram post was one of the first direct family statements shared publicly and has been central to how followers are processing the news. She conveyed personal grief and a request for prayers, emphasizing Michael’s roles within the family rather than his public persona.
“It’s been 24 hours since my world came crashing down. I’m numb, angry, depressed.”
Jessica Duarte (Instagram)
Her message framed the private impact of the loss and explained why the family needs time and support to handle immediate logistical and emotional tasks. Followers responded with condolences and offers of help while media outlets sought confirmation and additional details.
The talent agency representing Duarte issued a formal notice acknowledging both professional and personal loss, highlighting his collaborations and character. The agency’s brief statement aimed to inform partners and fans while asking for respect for family privacy during funeral planning.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our valued client and dear friend, Michael Duarte.”
Alooma Media Group (Talent agency statement)
Agency remarks reiterated Duarte’s impact on colleagues and clients and signaled ongoing coordination between representatives and the family. Industry partners often use such statements to manage contractual aftereffects and public expectations.
The GoFundMe text described the event as a “horrible incident” and outlined immediate financial needs for repatriation and funeral costs, while pledging to update donors as plans are confirmed. The campaign has become a focal point for fans wishing to offer concrete support.
“This heartbreak came without warning… Your support would bring comfort, stability, and a reminder that they are not carrying this weight alone.”
GoFundMe campaign
Unconfirmed
- No official cause of death has been released by authorities; public materials describe the event only as a “horrible incident.”
- Specific funeral arrangements and timing have not been confirmed; the family has said plans are undecided and will be announced later.
Bottom Line
Michael Duarte’s sudden death has left a personal and professional void for his family, collaborators, and a large online audience. Immediate public responses have focused on practical needs—repatriation and funeral costs—while also expressing grief for a creator who shared both culinary skills and family moments with followers.
The situation underscores broader vulnerabilities in the creator economy: financial and logistical fragility when a primary earner dies, the reliance on community-funded emergency support, and the challenge of translating online influence into durable safety nets. Expect more updates as authorities, the family, and representatives clarify details and as the fundraiser and memorial plans develop.
Sources
- Yahoo Entertainment (News outlet)
- GoFundMe campaign (Crowdfunding page)
- Jessica Duarte Instagram post (Personal/family social post)
- Alooma Media Group statement (Talent agency)
- New York Daily News (News outlet)