Featured Image Credit: Todd Oren / Foodwithbearhands
Topics: California, Social Media, US News, Mental Health, Gun Crime, Police, Instagram
Liv Bridge
Topics: California, Social Media, US News, Mental Health, Gun Crime, Police, Instagram
A journalist who shares the same name as an influencer who tragically died this month has come under some criticism for making a 'tasteless' remark.
On Saturday (November 8), Michael Duarte, a beloved social media star from California who made cooking videos under the handle FoodWithBearHands, was shot and killed by cops while traveling in Texas.
Officers were reportedly responding to reports of a man 'with a knife acting erratically' when a deputy fired her duty weapon that fatally struck Duarte.
Now, a reporter for NBC LA whom shares the same first and last name of the late father, has landed in hot water for his viral reaction to the foodie's death.
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Duarte reposted a tribute piece by TMZ with a simple emoji, understood to express being 'mind-blown'.
While dozens spotted the apparent joke, wishing the sports reporter condolences 'for your loss of yourself' as another jibed about a 'ghost' being on the platform, some considered the post a little insensitive.
"Maybe having the same name is NOT a good enough reason to seek attention and engagement for another man’s death," said a disgruntled viewer to the journalist on X, formerly Twitter.
A second chimed: "Posting this to grift off someone’s death is peak levels of pathetic, but hey you got the engagement you were desperate for."
Meanwhile, a third critic penned: "Tasteless joke, this is someone's passing, a bit of decency would be welcomed."
Earlier this week, a GoFundMe for the food influencer said their 'loving husband, father, brother and great friend to many' died 'in a horrible incident'.
"Michael's death occurred just 3 short days after he and his wife celebrated their 9 year wedding anniversary," the fundraiser continued.
The star is survived by his wife, Jessica, and their six-year-old daughter, Oakley.
"This heartbreak came without warning, leaving Jessica to incur the expense of bringing him back home to California and covering funeral expenses."
The tragedy comes as Duarte amassed a serious social media following to the tune of two million across several platforms, where he posted BBQ cook-outs, recipes, cooking top tips and other of his meaty creations.
"My purpose is to share to the world food to people who need it the most," his Instagram bio read.
In the weeks before his death, Duarte also told his 'story' in a post on Instagram, revealing he never had a 'father figure' and was a 'momma's boy'.
He said his uncle, Arthur Barros, 'became a mentor to me', recruiting him into his first restaurant job when he was 14 and taught him how to cook.
Tragically, his mom died of breast cancer when he was just 21 and despite a brief stint in rehab following a 'metal health crisis' in the Covid-19 pandemic, he got back on his feet and cooking again.
Duarte's channel hit it off when he posted food videos with his daughter and it grew into his business.