'Okay Baby' TikTok Star's Mom Says Family Are Living a 'Nightmare' as She Shares 'Update' Following 2-Year-Old's Death
Preston Ordone, the 2-year-old son of Katelynn and Jaelen Ordone, known as 'Okay Baby" online, died in a fatal car accident in Louisiana on April 24
Katelynn shared an "update" on Instagram regarding the tragedy on Wednesday, May 14, writing that the family had "hired an independent accident reconstruction expert to thoroughly review the incident"
She mentioned they'd discovered there might have been "an issue" with the car seat Preston had been travelling in, calling the accident an "unbearable tragedy"The mother of Preston Ordone is sharing further details about the fatal car crash that killed the 2-year-old in Louisiana last month.
On Wednesday, May 14, a post shared to Katelynn Ordone's Instagram account thanked "everyone who has been here for us during this time."
"Nothing will take away the pain we feel and how much we miss Preston every single day, but it is helpful to have such a strong support system in the midst of living our worst nightmare," the caption read.
Preston is the son of Katelynn and Jaelen Ordone, who are known for their viral "Okay Baby" TikTok account. On the day of the April 24 crash, Louisiana State Police shared a press release stating that the vehicle Preston was traveling in, a 2011 Ford F-150, 'veered off the roadway to the right and struck a tree."
Police stated it was a "single-vehicle crash" that occurred "on Interstate 12, west of the LA Hwy 59 exit in St. Tammany Parish."
Preston was transported to a local hospital, but tragically 'succumbed to his injuries,' the release stated.
Sharing an "update regarding the accident," in a written message posted to Instagram on Wednesday, Katelynn wrote, 'For those of you who don't know, my husband and I suffered severe concussions and have no memory of the accident. There has been a lot of misinformation out there & we want to share the most accurate information we have at this time.'
She said that the couple had 'hired an independent accident reconstruction expert to thoroughly review the incident," writing, 'According to the vehicle's black box data, the vehicle was traveling at 70 mph before decelerating and making a right turn, impacting at approximately 60 mph."
Police previously stated in the initial release that Preston had been "seated in the rear, but improperly restrained in a child safety seat.'
Katelynn said in Wednesday's post, 'Preston was properly secured in a two-piece, 360-degree car seat positioned behind the passenger seat," adding that he 'remained fully restrained in his car seat throughout the incident,' mentioning this had been seen by witnesses.
'He was removed from the vehicle still securely fastened and brought to the side of the road by bystanders — this occurred before any emergency vehicle arrived at the scene,' the message continued. 'Witnesses shared that it appeared to take at least 15 minutes for first responders to arrive, at which point Preston was still fully secured in his car seat and was handed over to them.'
Katelynn pointed out that the report confirmed "that the car seat base was properly installed and belted in.'
Without naming the brand, she added, "However, there appears to have been an issue with how the seat attached to the base: the locking pins were stuck in the engaged position, which may have prevented the seat from fully securing to the base."
'After learning this, we further researched this particular car seat and discovered the issue has been reported by others as well,' the post, which was also shared on TikTok, read.
Katelynn continued, "As for the cause of the accident, it is currently believed to have been the result of a medical emergency, which is consistent with the vehicle's deceleration and steering behavior.'
'We deeply appreciate the continued prayers and support as we navigate this unbearable tragedy. We are grateful for the continued prayers. Our only source of strength right now is our faith and the hope we have in God. We can't imagine walking through this without the assurance of eternal life and the peace that comes from knowing the truth,' the post concluded.
The update comes after PEOPLE confirmed that Preston's official cause of death was listed as "blunt force injuries due to a motor vehicle crash." The St. Tammany Parish coroner's office also stated that the child's manner of death had been categorized as accidental.
As previously reported by PEOPLE, the Ordone's older daughter Paisley was thankfully not in the car at the time of the crash.
Preston was known as the 'Okay Baby' with his videos going viral on TikTok and Instagram. He loved to say 'okay' to Katelynn before then going to do the opposite of what she had asked. Videos of him jumping into mud and puddles garnered millions of videos and likes. Katelynn now has 241,000 followers on Instagram, and over 623,000 on TikTok.
A GoFundMe page set up on the family's behalf had raised over $59,600 as of Thursday, May 15.
Read the original article on People
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Stars, stitches and stripes: Africa's top shots
A selection of the week's best photos from across the African continent and beyond: Unpacking the South African land law that so inflames Trump On the hunt for Tiger, the fugitive linked to illegal gold mine where 78 died Inside the world's worst country to give birth Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cheerleaders for Violence: The Troubling Defense of Terror in Boulder
It was supposed to be a peaceful demonstration. Instead, it ended in flames. But what came after the attack in Boulder may be even more incendiary, especially online, where some users in their teens and 20s were not condemning the violence. They were endorsing it. On a clear afternoon in late May, a pro-Israel demonstration on Boulder, Colorados iconic Pearl Street Mall turned into a scene of terror. An Egyptian citizen, wielding improvised firebombs, attacked the crowd, injuring 15 people and igniting panic in a city more often associated with peaceful protests and college town calm. Authorities swiftly arrested the suspect, now charged with multiple felonies including attempted murder and arson. Law enforcement has labeled the incident an act of terrorism. But while the violence rattled the city and the Jewish community in particular, a very different response was unfolding online. Videos posted by major outlets such as ABC News, Daily Mail, and MSNBC quickly amassed thousands of views on TikTok and Instagram. In the comment sections, a disturbing trend emerged: Rather than denouncing the attack, many young users applauded it. "He just wanted freedom for Palestine." "Keep up the good work brother! Hero." "Free him, he did no wrong. He did what we all wanted." "I was about to comment about how terrible this is and then I realized it was a pro-Israel rally and I suddenly didnt feel bad anymore." Some expressed outright Jew-hatred, writing things like, "Reduce their population" and "We owe Germany an apology." Others painted the attacker as a martyr or revolutionary. Several claimed the incident was staged entirely, a so-called "false flag" to build sympathy for Israel. This chorus of justification, denial, and celebration is jarring but not entirely surprising given the current climate. Recent polling shows a dramatic shift in how young Americans view the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to Pew Research Center, 53% of U.S. adults now hold an unfavorable view of Israel. Support for the Palestinian cause has grown, particularly among Democrats and younger voters. In one RealClearPolling analysis,respondentsunder 28 years old were more likely than any other age group to sympathize with Palestinians over Israelis and to view Israels military actions in Gaza as unjustified. As someone from this generation, and from Boulder, Ive watched these sentiments evolve online, where politics blur with memes and moral lines often collapse under the weight of outrage or irony. Seeing this unfold in my own hometown made it feel less like an aberration and more like a wake-up call. Whats chilling isnt just the cruelty of the comments. Its how natural they seem to the people posting them, many of whom are my peers. Layered atop this political shift is a deepening distrust of institutions. A significant share of younger Americans express skepticism toward government narratives, traditional news media, and even the legitimacy of domestic law enforcement. According to the spring 2025 Harvard Youth Poll, fewer than one in three express trust in major institutions. But when that skepticism is applied to something as clear and violent as the Boulder attack, is it truly thoughtful or is it reflexive, corrosive doubt - the kind that opens the door to conspiracism and moral disengagement? That mindset helps explain the abundance of conspiracy-laden responses: "Yeah they set this up. Dont believe it at all," read one comment. Another called it a "planned distraction," while others insisted it was staged with actors. Though many of these reactions remain anonymous and ephemeral, they point to a generational divide not just in foreign policy, but in the moral frameworks through which violence is interpreted. Zoe Mardiks, a recent graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder and a Jewish student leader, was at her apartment when she learned of the attack. "My first reaction was to text some of my other Jewish friends to check in and ensure that everyone was okay and safe," she said. "I felt very scared that this had happened in my community." What disturbed her just as much as the attack itself was the flood of online comments defending it. "The ongoing justification for violence significantly downplays the rights of Jews and Israel to exist," Mardiks said. In her view, social media has warpedher generations sense of moral clarity. "Because of how the war has been broadcast on social media, everyone feels they have a say in the issue and believes they possess all the knowledge," she said. Mardiks said her response to those defending the attacker is simple: "If you truly care about saving or freeing anyone, we can only do that by educating each other in a non-attacking way … the line is drawn when you praise violence." The Boulder attack marks a grim milestone: a foreign conflict spilling onto American soil in the form of violence, and met, in some corners of the Internet, with tacit approval. That many of those corners are populated by Americans under 30 raises hard questions about what this generation, my generation, believes, whom they stand with, and what they consider justifiable resistance. For us, the line between protest and terrorism used to feel clear. Now, for too many, that line seems negotiable. "He did what we all wanted." If thats true, we may need to start asking what "we" really means now. Adair Teuton is a 2025 intern with RealClearPolitics.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jonathan Joss: Police Are Investigating Actor's Sexual Orientation as Motive in His Killing
Police investigating the shooting death of actor Jonathan Joss have not ruled out his sexual orientation playing a role in his killing, despite an earlier statement suggesting otherwise. During a dispute Sunday night near his San Antonio, Texas home, Joss was shot and killed; a neighbor, identified by investigators as Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, was taken into custody and charged with murder. More from Rolling Stone 'King of the Hill' Creators Pay Tribute to Jonathan Joss Jonathan Joss, 'King of the Hill' Voice Actor, Fatally Shot at 59 Johnny Hardwick, Voice of Conspiracy Nut Dale Gribble on 'King of the Hill,' Dead at 64 Following Joss' death, the King of the Hill voice actor's husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, said on social media that they were approached by the neighbor who began yelling homophobic slurs and fired his gun. 'Jonathan and I had no weapons. We were not threatening anyone,' said de Gonzales. 'We were standing side by side. When the man fired, Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life.' The day after Joss' killing, the San Antonio police wrote on social media that 'despite online claims of this being a hate crime, currently the investigation has found no evidence to indicate that the Mr. Joss's murder was related to his sexual orientation.' However, during a press conference Thursday, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said that statement was 'premature.' 'I will own that and simply say again that we simply shouldn't have done that. It was way too early in the process for any statement of that nature to be issued,' McManus said, adding that authorities are investigating the actor's sexual orientation as a possible motive. 'The loss of Jonathan Joss was tragic, most heavily felt by the LGBTQ+ community,' McManus said (via the Associated Press). 'We gather the facts, and we give those facts to the district attorney's office. And then that hate crime designation is determined at sentencing.' Joss' King of the Hill and Parks and Recreation co-stars and creators paid tribute to the actor following news of his death. King of the Hill's co-creators, Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, and revival showrunner Saladin Patterson shared a post on Instagram alongside images of Joss and his character, John Redcorn. 'Jonathan brought King of the Hill's 'John Redcorn' to life for over a dozen seasons, including in the upcoming revival,' they wrote. 'His voice will be missed at King of the Hill, and we extend our deepest condolences to Jonathan's friends and family.' Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Best 'Saturday Night Live' Characters of All Time Denzel Washington's Movies Ranked, From Worst to Best 70 Greatest Comedies of the 21st Century
