Description
Desmond Daniel Amofah (May 12, 1990 – c. June 19, 2019), better known as Etika , was an American YouTuber and online streamer. He became known online for his highly energetic reactions to Super Smash Bros. character reveals and Nintendo Direct presentations, and for playing and reacting to various games. The son of Ghanaian politician Owuraku Amofah, he lived in Brooklyn, New York, for most of his life.
Starting his online career in 2007, Amofah created his main YouTube channel, "EWNetwork" (Etika World Network), in 2012. His fanbase was dubbed the "JOYCONBOYZ" in reference to the Nintendo Switch controller, the Joy-Con. He garnered popularity following the release of Super Smash Bros. 4 , with such a rise in prevalence largely stemming from his videos discussing news related to the game. His channel mainly centered around livestream material, namely playthroughs of recently released games and reaction-content. He also produced pre-recorded content.
Between late 2018 and 2019, Amofah demonstrated signs of mental distress, threatening to commit suicide on multiple occasions and being hospitalized several times. Amofah uploaded pornography to the EWNetwork channel in October 2018, resulting in its termination; he then posted statements on social media alluding to suicide. After issuing an apology, Amofah created another streaming channel, "EtikaFRFX", which was terminated in April 2019 for identical reasons. He proceeded to suffer a series of public breakdowns, including posting cryptic messages on social media and streaming himself being detained by the police.
On June 20, 2019, Amofah was reported missing after an apologetic video was uploaded to his "TR1Iceman" channel. After his body was recovered from the East River on June 24, the New York City Police Department confirmed his death online the next day. On June 26, the Office of Chief Medical Examiner concluded that Amofah had drowned after jumping from the Manhattan Bridge. Amofah's death was met with expressions of both shock and grief by fans and fellow YouTubers alike, with many citing his case as an example of the indifference typically expressed towards mental health – many observers have commented that the signs of Amofah's mental deterioration were either downplayed or ignored prior to his suicide. Several memorials and murals were set up around New York City for Amofah shortly following his death, while various tributes were paid to him honoring his career as a prominent gaming personality.
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