Kevin Samuels, Controversial ‘Relationship’ YouTuber with 1.4M Followers, Has Died
One of YouTube's most controversial influencers has died at the age of 56. Although rumors preceded official confirmation, the family
Tristan Green
One of YouTube's most controversial influencers has died at the age of 56.
Although rumors preceded official confirmation, the family of Kevin Samuels has confirmed that he died Thursday. Samuels' mom learned of her son's death from social media, which she calls "terrible."
Samuels Dead at 56
Police in Atlanta say that they were called to an apartment on East Paces Ferry Rd NE early Thursday morning. According to the Atlanta police, they were responding to a call about "injured" persons.
By the time they arrived, First Responders were already on the scene and administering CPR to an unresponsive individual.
That person was later confirmed to be Samuels.
ABC News reports, "A woman in the apartment told officers that Samuels had complained about chest pain and that she attempted to help him but he fell, the police report states. The woman called 911.
Samuels was taken to Piedmont Hospital, police said. When contacted Friday, the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office said it could not confirm or deny any information."
While many won't shed a tear over a person whose YouTube content and comments were often considered divisive and misogynistic, finding out that his mother discovered his death through social media posts is heartbreaking.
Rumors began circulating early Thursday and Samuels' mother said to ABC News in a phone call, "That was a terrible thing for social media to put that out. I didn't even know. I hadn't even been notified. All I'm doing is requesting that people pray for us."
Controversial Comments about Black Women Make Samuels a Divisive Figure
Samuels' time on YouTube was plagued with controversy and he was accused by many of mistreating Black women to further his career as a shock commentator.
Journalist Ernest Owens wrote of Samuels' passing, "Kevin Samuels has made a career off of shamelessly disgracing Black women for profit.
He emboldened the most toxic individuals to project tired and harmful narratives about Black women.
Dead or alive, what a disgraceful life to live.
That's all I've got for that misogynist."
And judging by the trending comments on Twitter, many agree.
Samuels' considered himself a stylist, image consultant and a relationships expert, but placed much of the blame for modern relationship woes on the shoulders of women – specifically, Black women.
Fans defended him online, saying that all Samuels hoped to do was create realistic expectations for women to help bridge the issues plaguing modern relationships. However, many aren't buying it.
“kevin samuels had some disagreeable takes, but…”
— IG: 5hahem (@shaTIRED) May 6, 2022
this man degraded and berated women ALL day. calling them useless, ugly, saying they’re old, can’t live without a man, etc. a disagreeable take is “i don’t want completely free healthcare for all” not hatred of a group of people
While one half of Twitter seemed to celebrate rumors of his passing, the other half chided them for wishing ill on someone.
Whether you fall on one side or the other of Samuels' fan club, it's clear that he was a divisive figure whose death will have ripple effects.
Will his words become martyr-like gospel to those who find common cause in the legacy he left behind?
Or will he forever go down in history as a woman-hater who divided people and solved no problems?
Time will tell what legacy Samuels leaves behind, but the internet seems happy to grapple with it today as his family is left to mourn.