California-based food influencer Michael Duarte died on Nov. 8.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our valued client and dear friend, Michael Duarte,” Alooma Media Group, his talent agency, wrote in a Nov. 9 Instagram post. “He was a true & loyal partner, a trusted collaborator, and above all, a remarkable person. His passion, professionalism, and creativity left a lasting mark not only on our team but on everyone who had the privilege of working with him.”
Duarte was known by a combined following of over 2 million on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube for his cooking videos, sharing recipes and delicious videos of his BBQ and grilling creations. His bio on Instagram read “my purpose is to share to the world food to people who need it the most.”
Michael Duarte/Instagram
According to a GoFundMe established to support his family after his death, which was reshared on his Instagram account, the creator was survived by his wife Jessica — to whom he had been married for nine years — and a 6-year-old daughter, Oakley.
Per the GoFundMe description, Duarte died in a “horrible accident” while traveling in Texas.
“We ask that you lift Michael’s family up in prayer during this extremely difficult time,” the description continues. “This heartbreak came without warning, leaving Jessica to incur the expense of bringing him back home to California and covering funeral expenses.”
Duarte grew up in Calipatria, Calif., a small city near the U.S.-Mexico border. His uncle — whom he called a “mentor” in an Instagram post — owned a small Mexican restaurant, which is where he got his first job and learned to cook at the age of 14.
As a young adult, he worked at several restaurants in the San Diego area, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, he left his job and started posting cooking videos on social media. Around that time, he wrote on Instagram, he had a “mental health crisis” and went to rehab.
Michael Duarte/Instagram
Out of rehab, Duarte started working at a new restaurant and posting videos online again during his days off. “My first one was with my daughter,” he wrote. “That’s when I realized how happy creating content made me. Over time, I began to see it wasn’t just a hobby — it could be a business, something bigger than myself.”
In their tribute to the late internet star, Alooma described Duarte as a “devoted husband to his wife Jessica, a loving father to his daughter, brother and a loyal friend to so many around the world.”
“His warmth, kindness, and generosity were felt in every interaction, and he had a way of making everyone around him feel valued and inspired,” the post continued. “Michael’s passing is a tremendous loss to all who knew him. His legacy of integrity, compassion, and dedication will continue to live on through the lives he touched.”