O’Donnell’s passing has been confirmed in an online obituary, which states he died on January 11.
After hearing the devastating news, many took to social media and expressed condolences.
Fellow social media personality Kevin Clevenger wrote in a touching tribute: “One day I’ll find peace in knowing you’re not in pain anymore, but today my heart aches that you’re gone. I love you.”
While a friend penned: “Chris, I’ll love you forever. You’ve been a light in my life since we met in 2016. I wish we would’ve moved to CA together in 2021 like we talked about. I wish we kept in touch more than just online every few weeks. I have so many wishes. In the end, I wish you peace. My heart is broken. All the love and thoughts in the world to your family and Blue.”
In one of his final TikTok posts, O’Donnell shared a heartfelt video of himself delivering a speech at his brother’s wedding.
He reflected on this moment: “One of my proudest moments as a brother, being able to send these two off into the next chapter of their lives.”
While O’Donnell’s Instagram activity had decreased in recent months, he posted a reel in November 2024 that showcased moments from his outdoor adventures, including hiking and off-roading.
In the caption, he pondered how he would be remembered, writing: “I wonder when I leave this earth, when I leave the rat race, when I’m lying in the dirt, if you’d remember my face.”
The influencer’s social media content often revolved around fitness, nature, and his beloved dog.
Despite being known as a fitness influencer, he revealed in a December 2022 Instagram post that fitness was not his primary passion.
O’Donnell shared: “I am a content creator with most of my media revolving around fitness. However, fitness is far from my passion.”
In the same post, he discussed his diverse life experiences and his love of learning about other cultures and perspectives.
O’Donnell went on to describe himself as ‘a very solitary person’ and noted that he had been open about his mental health struggles since high school, hoping to inspire others on their journeys.
He also shared that he had been sober since 2018, dedicating himself to raising awareness about substance abuse and helping others find treatment.
