What White Trash Produces!
By: Tommy “Tj” Sotomayor

Dazharia Shaffer, a TikTok creator with 1.7 million followers on the video platform, has died at 18 years old. 

Shaffer, who went by Dee on TikTok with the username “dazhariaa,” died by suicide on Tuesday, the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office confirmed to Insider. People first reported the news of Shaffer’s death.

The teen from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was an up-and-coming influencer with growing followings on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. She uploaded her last TikTok post, a dance video, on Monday.

Shaffer’s father, Raheem Alla, confirmed her death on his TikTok page Wednesday.

“I just want to thank everyone for their love and support of my daughter. Unfortunately she is no longer with us and has gone to a better place,” he wrote. Alla did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for further comment. 

On his TikTok profile, Alla promoted a GoFundMe page to support the family. The GoFundMe was organized by Rodney Andry, who appears to be a friend or relative of the family. The memorial fundraiser had raised $6,935 as of Friday morning. Andry did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.

In a note on the fundraiser, Alla said Shaffer was his “little best friend” and referenced his daughter’s mental health. 

“She was so happy,” the message said. “I only wish she would have spoken to me about her stress and the thoughts of suicide. We could work thru this.”

Alla added: “I only want to hold you again my little jelly bean. Now I come home and your no longer gonna be there waiting for me. I have to let you fly with the angels.” 

The comments section on Shaffer’s last Instagram post, which she posted on January 23, was full of fans mourning the young star in the days after her death, with comments like “we lost an angel” and “this is heartbreaking.” 

Shaffer’s TikTok gained 200,000 followers on Wednesday and Thursday after the news of her death broke, according to data from Social Blade, a social-media analytics website. The sudden gain reflects a trend of social-media users following the accounts of people with high-profile deaths, including the killing of the Houston influencer Alexis Sharkey.

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or has had thoughts of harming themselves or taking their own life, get help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) provides 24/7, free, confidential support for people in distress, as well as best practices for professionals and resources to aid in prevention and crisis situations.