Byron Bernstein, a beloved member of the online gaming community, has died at 31.
The Austin, Texas-based gamer was known as Reckful on the streaming platform Twitch, where he had more than 936,000 followers.
He was best known for his achievements in World of Warcraft and Asheron’s Call.
He ranked as one of the ten richest gamers in 2017 by Gazette Review, claiming to be worth approximately $1.5 million during a livestream.
Most recently, he was creating a new game called “Everland.”
His ex-girlfriend, known as Blue, confirmed his death, reportedly by suicide.
“Yes, it’s him. He’s gone. I’ve been having a panic attack for an hour. I don’t know what to do,” she wrote on Twitter. “Byron, I wish I could have helped you. We all do. I’m so sorry I couldn’t. Thank you for being a part of my life. Love you always.”
She added, “Thank you to everyone who has reached out. I wish he could see how much he is loved and all of the sweet things people have said to honor his memory. Remember, your words/tweets affect people, even the famous people. Please be kind.”
According to fellow streamer NymN, Byron’s roommate also confirmed his passing, along with Byron’s older brother Gary Bernstein.
His Twitter feed early this morning included troubling messages that his fans responded to with concern.
ahh, i feel bad for anyone who has to deal with my insanity
— Reckful (@Byron) July 2, 2020
Hours before he died, he was active on Twitter, saying that he felt bad for anyone “who has to deal with” his insanity.
“Please just know in these situations the insane person does not feel in control of their actions,” he added.
In January, he shared in a video that he lost his brother to suicide when he was 6 years old and had long struggled with his mental health.
However, he said he was improving, and that working on his new game had given him “a sense of purpose.”
“I am actually day-to-day happy,” he said in the video. “I’ve never felt this way in my life. I’m not saying it’s gonna last forever, but right now I’m happy.”
Fans shared their remembrances of the internet personality thisafternoon, including entertainer and fellow Twitch user Andy Milonakis, who sometimes appeared in his videos.
Many recalled moments when he was open about his struggles and encouraged others in pain to get help.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis, call the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 800-273-8255 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.