TikToker Malik Taylor aka The Unpopular Party dies at 28 in car accident; heartbroken fans say 'YouTube lineup won't hit the same'
Malik Taylor's death: Alpha Kappa Psi Zeta Phi confirms the news
The heartbreaking announcement was first shared by Alpha Kappa Psi – Zeta Phi on their official Facebook page. Their full statement read:
'It is with heavy hearts that we share our beloved Brother, Malik Taylor, has gone to 'Audit Eternal'. To know him was to know he was a light to everyone—always bringing laughter, joy, and a warm smile that brightened every room he entered.
Brother Taylor embodied the values of brotherhood, unity, and compassion. His ability to uplift others, share kindness, and spread joy will forever remain in our memories.
Though your time with us was far too short, you were a good and faithful Brother, and the 'Great Auditor' will reward you for your everlasting work.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and all who loved him.
Rest in peace, Malik Taylor, Zeta Phi Chapter Spring 2017. You will be deeply missed, but your spirit will continue to inspire us.'
The statement reflected just how loved and respected Taylor was within his fraternity and the lasting impression he left on those around him.
Cousin confirms accident on Facebook
While details surrounding the circumstances remain limited, Taylor's cousin, Kendall Holloway, seemingly confirmed that he died in a tragic car accident in Charlotte. In his tribute post, Holloway described Malik as 'one of the best social media influencers' and urged friends and family to take a moment of silence to honour his life. The confirmation has added to the heartbreak of fans who were already grappling with the sudden news.
Who was Malik Taylor?
Malik Taylor was an American content creator who originally hailed from Memphis, Tennessee, before moving to Charlotte, North Carolina, earlier this year. He celebrated his 28th birthday in July, just weeks before his untimely passing, which was reported on August 21, 2025.
He was a familiar face on TikTok and YouTube, where he gained hundreds of thousands of followers for his witty take on pop culture. From celebrity news to football and anything else that could capture attention, Malik had a way of adding his signature humour to every conversation. After finding success on TikTok, he began steadily growing his presence on Instagram, where more than 15,000 people followed him. Just two days before his passing, he had shared what would become his final video on the platform, discussing Naomi's pregnancy.
Before rising to fame online, Taylor worked as a schoolteacher in Memphis. In 2023, he made the life-changing decision to leave teaching and dedicate himself to social media full-time. At the time, he had around 10,000 TikTok followers, but his content quickly resonated with a larger audience. Over the last few years, he became popular on TikTok for his humour, commentary, and cultural insights. He also built a strong presence on YouTube with his channel The Unpopular Party, which attracted nearly 80,000 subscribers.
Just last month, Taylor celebrated his birthday with a reflective post where he shared photos of himself in a black suit, captioning it, 'Survived the 27 club (Barely). Only right I celebrate my 28th like it's the party of the century. Call me Malik Gatsby. Cheers to the rest of my roaring 20s Old Sport.'
Fans share tributes on X
News of Taylor's passing has sparked a wave of grief online. Fans have taken to TikTok, X, and Instagram to express their sadness and honour his memory, calling him a source of humour, joy, and inspiration.
One fan wrote on X, "Not to be all parasocial, but Malik Taylor's death is really making me sad today… I was just watching his YouTube video last night, cracking up & opened TikTok today & saw he passed in a car accident? He just moved to a new city, ready for a fresh start. My heart hurts."
not to be all parasocial but Malik Taylor's death is really making me sad today… i was just watching his youtube video last night cracking up & open tiktok today & see he passed in a car accident. like wtf? he just moved to a new city ready for a fresh start. my heart hurts.
Another user said, "Malik Taylor's passing is so sad, we really can be here today and gone tomorrow. He just uploaded a TikTok 24hrs ago man."
Malik Taylor's passing is so sad, we really can be here today and gone tomorrow.He just uploaded a TikTok 24hrs ago man🥺
Check out more reactions below:
not me waking up to find out that Malik Taylor aka TheUnpopularParty on TikTok had passed away…..I—- pic.twitter.com/97CW8hSnEo
and @JeLaminah better send the normal culture merch to malik taylor's family so he can have it in the after life 💔💔
you're always reminded that death is so sudden, random, & has no respect of persons when you hear about someone passing who was just here & posting so happily. RIP Malik Taylor 🥺🕊️
Pretty girls love Malik Taylor. No, freaking way man!! My weekly YouTube lineup definitely won't hit the same. 💔#maliktaylor
Rest in peace. Malik Taylor. Your light, humour, and spirit will continue to live on in the hearts of those you touched.
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