Influencer Sara Bennett Announces Her Own Death at 39

“When a pivot is required, even in the most devastating circumstances, the direction change doesn’t have to be all bad,” she wrote to Instagram in May 2024. “We can and should mourn what was not and what will never be, but at the same time I need to make the best of a terrible hand.”

Toward the end of her life, Sara prepared for “the after” by holding an end of life ceremony and writing out traditions for each holiday, all of which she delegated to friends and family to keep her “special people connected” and give her husband “extra support.”

Meanwhile, she also shared elsewhere about how, despite the disease that took “SO much” from her, she was proud to have used her voice to help others. 

“My platform gave me the chance to keep using my voice, to continue teaching, and to help others,” Sara wrote in a Nov. 6 blog on Her ALS Story. “I was intentional and turned my unfathomable sorrow into late-night brainstorms. I used my account to cope, to create, and it’s a piece of my life worth mentioning.”

“I am so thankful, and I never should have had the opportunity to make an account about my journey as a dying mom,” she added. “Be good to each other and love the s--t out of your life."

Read on for other influencers who have announced their own deaths. 

Sara Bennett

Three years after she was diagnosed with ALS, the influencer announced her own death on social media at the age of 39.

“I am not in pain, or tired. I can laugh, talk, and I can move,” Sara wrote in the caption of her January 2026 Instagram. “Reflecting in my last few months of my life, I am glad I didn’t go suddenly even WITH the suffering. I finished my list.”

Referencing what she often referred to online as “the after,” she added, “Even if you don’t believe in any thing, I am feeding the earth, and my tree. I loved this life, and am grateful for the time.”

Two months before her death, she reflected on her life and encouraged others to embrace the time they have.

“I am so thankful, and I never should have had the opportunity to make an account about my journey as a dying mom,” Sara wrote in a November 2025 blog on Her ALS Story. “Be good to each other and love the s--t out of your life."

Criscilla Anderson

The former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders choreographer who starred in Netflix’s 2020 reality show Country Ever After with ex Coffey Anderson, announced her own death at 45 following a seven-year battle with colon cancer.

“If you’re reading this, I’ve finally slipped into the arms of Jesus—peacefully and surrounded by love,” she wrote on Instagram in December 2025, posted by her friend Lindsey Villatoro. “Please don’t stay in the darkness of this moment. I fought hard and I loved deeply.”

Criscilla also addressed her and Coffey’s kids Ethan, Emmarie and Everleigh, as well as step-daughter Savannah from Coffey’s previous relationship, calling them “my whole heart.”

“Ethan, you made me a mom. I’m still beside you, cheering you on,” she continued. “Savannah, my bonus girl—you were a gift God knew I needed. Emmarie, my Jesus-loving dancer—keep dancing through every season. Everleigh, my bright spark—chase your dreams boldly and without fear.”

Criscilla added, “My babies… I am watching over you. When a moment feels warm, familiar, or too beautiful to be coincidence—that’s me. I’m still mothering you. I’m still yours.”

Tanner Martin 

After a five-year battle with colon cancer, influencer Tanner Martin—who documented his terminal disease and life with wife Shay Martin and daughter AmyLou online—personally announced his own death. 

“Hey, it’s me, Tanner,” Tanner said in a posthumous video shared to Instagram in June 2025. “If you’re watching this right now, I’m dead.”

Tanner, who was 30 at the time of his death, said he wanted to make a video announcing his death because he had seen another user do it and though it was “a good opportunity” to get his thoughts out and call attention to his wife and daughter, whom he affectionately referred to as “Jiaozi.” 

 “Everyone, I had a heck of a life,” he continued in his video. “You guys seriously thank you for all that you do for me for the time I was here and all the support and love you showed me and my little family. I would ask at this time if you could continue to offer prayers and stuff for my sweetheart Shay and my baby girl Jiaozi.”

 The influencer expressed gratitude for his audience, noting that his final request was simply to remember his family in thoughts and prayers. 

 “Life was awesome,” Tanner concluded. “I really enjoyed it while I was here. Hopefully I believe there’s something after this and hopefully we’re hanging out now. There’s just a lot of people in the afterlife that I’m excited to see them not in pain and just happy.”

Bella Bradford

In October 2024, TikToker Bella Bradford shared that she had died after a battle with a rare form of cancer in her jaw muscle. She was 24. 

“I have terminal cancer and unfortunately, by now, my life has come to an end, and I’ve passed away,” Bella said in her video. “But I wanted to do one final ‘Get Ready With Me’ because I love doing these, and I love fashion. Thank you for following me on this fun journey, and yeah, I hope you will be back on all my videos and find a little bit of joy in your day if you ever needed to feel.”

And despite the heartbreaking circumstances, Bella left followers with a hopeful note. 

“Remember that you live every day and you only die once,” she explained, “so everything helps.”

Fiona MacDonald

The Australian TV host announced her own death in an Instagram post shared in October 2024 after a three-year battle with motor neuron disease—a neurodegenerative condition similar to ALS. 

“Farewell my friends,” Fiona wrote in a post shared to her Instagram account, alongside photos of her and her sons Harry and Rafe. “My sister Kylie is posting this because I have left the building. Hopefully I’m looking down from a cloud.” 

And the 67-year-old did not hide the debilitating effect her disease had on the end of her life. 

“Last night brought an end to a very tough few months,” she admitted. “While I’ve never wanted to die, the thought of leaving my tortured body was a relief.”

She concluded, "So let’s not call it goodbye as I hope to see you again on the other side—I carry your love and laughter with me and hope you’ll remember mine.”

Kimberley Nix

Canadian influencer Kimberley Nix announced her death in May 2024 after documenting her battle with metastatic sarcoma online for three years. 

“Hello followers,” Kimberley said in a TikTok video. “If you’re seeing this message, I have passed away peacefully.”

The 31-year-old influencer—who was a resident trained in internal medicine—explained that she had a “beautiful life” and shared a list of her favorite things, including her pets, her makeup collection and her husband Michael MacIsaac. 

And Kimberley—who used her platform to educate followers on her condition after her 2021 diagnosis—also expressed gratitude for her online community. 

“I love you all, thank you so much for this amazing opportunity,” she said. “I’m in happy tears because you’ve all made me find so much purpose in the end of my life.”

Daniella Thackray

Daniella Thackray, who detailed her battle with cholangiocarcinoma—a rare and aggressive form of cancer that grows in the bile ducts of one’s liver—wrote a personal note on Facebook to announce her own death in February 2024. 

“If you’re reading this then it means I have died from my battle with cancer and my family are posting my final message on my behalf,” Danielle, who hailed from Leeds, United Kingdom, wrote at the time. “Although we can’t control what happens to us, we can control how we react. I chose not to mourn the life I was losing despite being so devastated, but to instead enjoy every moment I had left.”

The 24-year-old admitted that she hoped more research would be done surrounding her cancer—which has no obvious causes or cure at this time—but emphasized that she lived her short life to the fullest. 

“As I have always said and believed you should enjoy the little things in life and cherish every moment!” Daniella wrote in her farewell. “Romanticise your life! Do whatever makes you happy and don’t let anyone take the joy of life away from you x.”

And her final word was to her fiancé Tom Calvert, to whom Daniella wrote, “I love you and always will. Go enjoy your life now, you deserve it.”

Paul Harrell 

Paul Harrell, who had over 1 million YouTube subscribers for his reviews of firearms, shared a YouTube video in September 2024 titled “I’m Dead” following his death from pancreatic cancer.

“Hi everyone,” Paul said in the video, which he said he recorded in December 2023. “If you’re watching me, I’m dead.”

Paul noted in his video that while he thought he had caught his cancer early, it began to spread rapidly to his bones, and it became apparent to him that his time “is drawing very short.”

“To everyone who has watched, hit the like or dislike icon, commented, shared, subscribed and donated on Patreon,” Paul continued, “Thank you.”

As he put it, “I can’t even begin to articulate how beneficial and appreciated those things are.”

The 58-year-old also went on to apologize to his fanbase for his unexpected departure from the world. 

“I had hoped that I would continue in this format for the next 10 or even 15 years,” he admitted, noting that his diagnosis took his life in just a few short months. “My apologies for that, it really feels like I’ve let everybody down.”