Alysha Burney, a social media star who has more than 4 million followers across YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, has died just one day before her 25th birthday.
Burney’s brother, Charles Burney, confirmed to TODAY that his sister died March 2 at age 24 after suffering an asthma attack in her sleep while the pair were on vacation in Mexico.
Charles Burney described his late sister, who found online fame after posting parody videos mocking the reality series “Bad Girls Club,” as extremely focused and big-hearted.
“Alysha was very goal oriented, creative and passionate about giving back,” Charles Burney told TODAY, noting that his late sister had earned a bachelors of science in digital media production and was working towards her graduate degree.
“Her life-long goal was to be a writer and a director,” Charles Burney added. “Another goal she had was to come back to Kansas City, open a production studio and help other young creatives from Kansas City get to where she was at. She was not selfish with her knowledge and was a very open book about her journey.”
In addition to her social media presence online, Alysha Burney owned a production company, ABurneyProductions, and produced several films, including “Shiesty”, “Shiesty II”, “Lost Angeles” and her latest, “Hot Girl Get Away,” which are available on her YouTube channel, her brother said.
Charles Burney also told TODAY that online gossip about his sister’s death was inaccurate, calling rumors “defamatory allegations.”
“She was a self-loving and happy individual who cherished her life and was looking forward to the upcoming year’s plans,” he said. “She was in Mexico to celebrate her birthday. She was a very classy young woman.”
Charles Burney’s comments to TODAY come just a day after he announced Alysha Burney’s death on Instagram.
“I come with great sadness that my little sister Alysha Burney has passed. PLEASE allow our family time to grieve during this time,” he wrote in the post, adding that it was “extremely difficult” for family members to hear of “all of the false narratives trying to defame her legacy.”
Alysha Burney’s last Instagram post, which sheshared one day before her death, was a video showing her and her brother that seemingly poked fun at their close bond.
“‘Stop telling your brother all our business,'” Alysha Burney wrote on the video, presumably quoting friends of hers.