Social media star Logan Paul was among those paying tribute to Tree at a Celebration Of Life event in California.

Christine Nickell, the mother of late singer Oliver Tree, has said he told her he was looking forward to the helicopter ride that led to his death, at a Celebration Of Life event in his honour.

Tree, who was best known for the songs Life Goes On and Miss You with Robin Schulz, and KSI collaboration Voices, died aged 32 when the helicopter in which he was travelling in Brazil in June.

Speaking at the Celebration Of Life in Santa Cruz, California, Nickell said: “I texted Oliver the day before he passed and asked how quitting smoking was going for him, as he promised he would give it up once he was on tour.

“He FaceTimed me immediately and let out a huge puff of cigarette smoke in my face.

“But he was so happy and excited about life that day, he told us he was taking a helicopter ride to a house on a mountain top the next day to make TikToks and music with his friends, he loved having epic days, each one more memorable than the last.

“The overwhelming outpouring of love and support since Oliver’s passing has been a profound source of comfort. I have witnessed humanity at its very best.”

Social media star Logan Paul was among those paying tribute to Tree, delivering a humorous monologue about their time together, with a slideshow, and ending on an emotional note.

Paul, 31, also a WWE wrestler, said: “Oliver Tree never dies, jokes aside guys, Oliver was everyone’s best friend.

“He was an adventurer with an incomparable zest for life and the ultimate ability to make anyone feel seen and heard.

Logan Paul
Logan Paul spoke at the event (Jonathan Brady/PA)

“Oliver is a generational artist whose legacy and music will last forever, and he’d be proud of all of us for keeping our heads up high by celebrating the impact of his time here on Earth, because at the end of the day, life goes on.”

The event featured screenings of unreleased videos made by Tree, and live music, and his parents spoke about Dr Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Art Grant For Baby Geniuses, to which all proceeds from the event were donated.

Tree’s father Jesse Nickell added: “From the start, our son was a true entertainer, even as a toddler he could make us laugh on the spot, he’d walk into a room and say to himself, ‘how can I make this interesting?’.

“And last of all, he was a great storyteller, and he did it through his music, his music videos, and his interviews. We’ll miss that goofball kid, peace be with Oliver, Oliver Tree.”

Dr Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Art Grant For Baby Geniuses will provide grants to artists for equipment used in the creation of art.

At the time of his death, Tree was only weeks into his World’s First World Tour where he had planned to play shows on all seven continents.

Tree, who was well known for his signature bowl cut, was due to play more than 70 shows across 30 countries including the UK, with dates scheduled in Glasgow, Manchester and London in September.

He released his fourth studio album, Love You Madly, Hate You Badly in April.

He had a number three single on the UK singles chart with Miss You, Voices reached number 11 and Life Goes On also charted. He also had a UK hit album with Ugly Is Beautiful in 2020.

In 2020 he broke the Guinness World Record for the largest kick scooter, 0.16m tall and 3.13m long, and according to the world record adjudicator’s website the record was broken to “fulfil a lifelong dream”.

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