The World Wide Web was shocked when TikTok celebrity Ronnie McNutt took his own life and live-streamed the event on Facebook while seated in front of a desk at his residence in Mississippi on August 31, 2020. The video of his suicide circulated widely and left his family, friends, and admirers devastated.
Who was Ronnie McNutt?
Born on May 23, 1987, Ronald “Ronnie” McNutt was an Army Reserve veteran who resided in the US city of New Albany, Mississippi, where he worked at a Toyota plant, was active in the local theater community, and co-hosted a podcast called JustUs Geeks.
The bearded and bespectacled autoworker frequently attended Celebration Church in Tupelo, was a member of a Comicons club, and authored comic book critiques for a website.
Comrade and podcast co-host Joshua Steen stated Mr. McNutt grappled with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after serving in the Iraq War from June 2007 to March 2008.
Mr. Steen conveyed to Heavy: “He seemed like a different person after his military service.”
“I had numerous late-night discussions with him in our studio, through text messages and in person, regarding life and his difficulties.”
What Occurred On the Live Stream?
Seated behind a desk and clad in a black shirt, Mr. McNutt fatally ended his life during a live stream on Facebook shortly after 10.30 pm local time on August 31.
He initiated the live broadcast around 9 pm local time. Observers started informing relatives and friends as he seemed despondent and heavily inebriated, and made alarming remarks about ending his life.
Mr. Steen expressed that he does not believe his comrade intended to take his own life at the outset of the live stream.
About 40 minutes into the stream, around 10 pm, Mr. McNutt lifted a rifle that misfired.
Mr. Steen informed Snopes that it was a had a “inexpensive, ordinary, single-shot rifle” – not a shotgun, as asserted on social media.
That was when Mr. Steen, via a podcast listener, became aware that his comrade urgently needed assistance.
Mr. Steen observed the live video as Mr. McNutt disregarded his phone calls and overlooked pleas from commenters to seek help.
By then, the stream had been reported to Facebook for removal, but the video lingered online for nearly two hours after the tragic incident.
Mr. McNutt received numerous calls and messages from concerned family members, friends, and strangers while he was still alive. Nevertheless, he persisted rambling, and sparring with individuals attempting to intervene, and made troubling statements.
Mr. Steen remarked: “He’s intoxicated, and the firearm is already present, and all these people had already got him stirred up on Facebook.”
Facebook Did Not Halt the Live Stream
Mr. Steen contends that Facebook did not take sufficient action to prevent the live broadcast or eliminate objectionable content linked to the fatality in the days following.
He and several other users reported the nearly two-hour live stream while Mr. McNutt was still alive, striving to prevent harm to himself.
However, it persisted, and Facebook verified that the graphic video of the death was visible for two hours and 41 minutes before it was deleted.
After reporting the stream, Mr. Steen disclosed that around 90 minutes after Mr. McNutt’s passing, he received a response from Facebook, stating: “This post will stay on Facebook because we solely delete content that violates our Community Standards.”
“Our standards forbid content that encourages suicide or self-injury.”
In an interview with Heavy, Mr. Steen asserted, “Facebook had the ability to prevent this and chose not to.” In his view, the social media behemoth is “directly accountable” for disseminating the video online and causing it to become widespread.
A spokesperson for Facebook, which also owns Instagram, expressed: “We eliminated the original video from Facebook last month when it was broadcasted and have employed automated technology to erase duplications and uploads since.”
“Our thoughts are with Ronnie’s loved ones and friends during this trying period.”
Ronnie Mcnutt’s Health Challenges
Comrade and podcast co-host Joshua Steen stated Mr. McNutt battled depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after serving in the Iraq War from June 2007 to March 2008.
Mr. Steen disclosed to Heavy: “He seemed like a different person after his military service.”
“I had numerous late-night discussions with him in our studio, through text messages, and in person, discussing life and his challenges.”
“Mental health concerns are extremely important, and I genuinely believe that there are many individuals dealing with various mental illnesses who leave it unattended. Or they address it with other methods, it appears.”
Rolling Stone magazine reported that he was described as “caring” and “loyal,” and Mr. McNutt had recently separated from his partner.
Just over a fortnight before his passing, he commemorated what would have been the 69th birthday of his father and namesake, Cecil Ronald “Ronnie” McNutt, who passed away in a hospital in February 2018.
Mr. McNutt published a family picture on Facebook on August 14, writing: “Today would have been dad’s 69th birthday. He was an exceptional man, and I miss him daily. Our family is incomplete without him.”
They are currently interred in the same burial ground.
As per an obituary, the younger Ronnie is survived by his mother Elaine, brother Joey, sister Mindy, three nieces, and two nephews.
Mr. McNutt posted a poignant final message on Facebook before commencing the live broadcast. It read: “Someone in your life needs to hear that they matter and that they are loved.”
“That they have a future. Be the one to tell them.”
Mr. Steen refuted claims that Mr. McNutt had lost his job, was on the verge of losing his residence, or had fallen victim to identity theft. “These are evident falsehoods, refrain from spreading them,” he tweeted.
