A family that turned their lives into a YouTube show is grappling with how to deal with the shock death of their 13 year old son.
Variety reports an “outpouring of grief” for a Caleb Logan Bratayley, whose cheeky personality won him tens of thousands of teen fans.
The Bratayleys are one of thousands of families who willingly broadcast every moment of their lives for YouTube. Their show has garnered more than a billion views and is now supported by the Disney company.
The death of Caleb from “natural causes” stunned the audience. He appeared on the family’s just a day earlier, laughing and mucking around.
“It is with our deepest sorrow to report that the Instagram announcement was indeed true,” the Bratayleys wrote on YouTube yesterday.
“In addition to our desire to give the Internet community the chance to begin the grieving process, we also wanted to post this video to show a healthy and happy Caleb doing what he loved. Thank you for all the love and support that everyone has shown our family. And we ask for continued love and support as we move through the grieving process.”
In the video, Caleb is seen talking about what he would ask his “future self” if he was given one question.
After a long pause, Caleb jokingly asks, “Is Taco Bell still around?” He later said he would ask if there were “any new sports” in the future.
On Sunday, the family shared a montage video of Caleb’s best moments from over their five years of vlogging.
While the family – whose real name is not Bratayley – has maintained that the teen died of “natural causes,” the ambiguity of the statement and Caleb’s healthy-looking appearance in their last video is causing fans to question the reason for his death.
In their videos and social media posts, the Bratayleys have asked for privacy while they grieve and have not gone into specifics about Caleb’s death. Caleb’s mother announced his passing Oct. 2
The ambiguity of the report has “fuelled rumour-mongering all over the Internet as to what specifically could cause an otherwise healthy-looking pre-adolescent to pass away.
“We know you tune in to watch every day and eagerly anticipate new videos, but ask that you bear with us while we deal with this tragedy as a family,” wrote his mother, Katie, on Instagram.
Bratayley isn’t the family’s real surname and they don’t identify where they live in the U.S.
Maker Studios, the Walt Disney-owned digital-media company that represents the family online, offered their condolences in a statement.
“We are heartbroken at the tragic loss of Caleb from Bratayley, a beloved member of the Maker family. Our love, support, thoughts, and prayers are with the Bratayley family.”
