Post Malone paid the ultimate tribute to Oliver Tree, pouring one out for him at his Toronto concert on June 16 at Rogers Stadium. Dedicating the show to Tree, Malone said it was “a celebration of the life of an absolutely beautiful, beautiful man.”
Born Oliver Tree Nickell, the left-of-center pop artist was known for his viral songs “Life Goes On” and “Alien Boy.” He was among six people killed when two helicopters crashed into each other in Rio de Janeiro. He was 32.
“[Oliver Tree was a] gentlemen I knew and was so beautiful, and inspired the world with his art … We lost a beautiful soul,” Malone told the crowd. He turned his attention toward the sky and said, “I just want you to know dude that we love you so very much … We’re just gonna have a great night and celebrate this gentleman.” He then took his beer and poured it out onto the stage.
Melanie Martinez also paid tribute to Tree, whom she dated from 2019 to 2020. “It’s really hard to understand how someone who you once shared such a specific and formative time of your life with can all of a sudden be gone,” she wrote in an Instagram story. “He was so dedicated to his art which I admired and respected so deeply … Rest in peace Oliver. I know you’re making the angels giggle.” Bebe Rexha, Kid Cudi, and T-Pain were also among the musicians who paid tribute to Tree. “Fuck man,” Kid Cudi wrote on X. “Spoke to Oliver a few weeks ago. This is heartbreaking. A really amazing and beautiful human. This shit sucks bad.”
Tree’s girlfriend, stylist Fiona Chernavskaya, paid tribute to the artist on Tuesday. “The magic, inspiration and joy you brought to my life and others, will never be forgotten or replaced,” she wrote on Instagram. You’d always tell me when we argued, if things don’t work out in this lifetime, you will find me in the next. I love you buggy.”
Tree’s final album Love You Madly Hate You Badly was independently released in April.
