TikTok Star Rory Teasley Reportedly Dies Over A Video Game
TikTok star Rory Teasley was found dead after an alleged argument over a video game with his boyfriend, Docquen Jovo Watkins. Teasley's fans better knew him as 2Pump4TV on TikTok, a space where he shared viral dances, comedy skits, and thoughts about life. Watkins and Teasley lived in Pontiac, Michigan, near Detroit.
Click On Detroit reports that the Oakland County Sheriff's office received a call from Watkins shortly before midnight on Jan. 6. He said that he and Teasley had argued earlier in the evening, and that Teasley had fallen asleep on the couch. When authorities arrived, they quickly discovered that Teasley wasn't sleeping at all. Instead, he was unconscious and not breathing. After he was rushed to a local hospital, doctors declared Teasley dead and police had cause to investigate the incident further.
After all, Watkins did say that he and Teasley had been in a fight. As it turns out, according to Click On Detroit's report and statements from local officials, Teasley and Watkins had been having some kind of argument about "Overwatch," the popular online competitive game from Activision Blizzard. Details about how the argument began or what the pair discussed weren't made available to the public, but nothing could have justified what ultimately happened.
Teasley won over fans with genuine content
Teasley built a following on TikTok based on his earnestness and charm. His dancing skills were notably on point, and many fans followed him to see him bust a move. It's difficult to describe the variety of content Teasley shared online, but his body of work is a good representation of how content creators have to diversify their offerings while still staying true to their overall message and personality. Teasley managed to do a lot of things in his 28 years, and he shared many parts of himself online. He was a skilled rapper, and often posted freestyles on his YouTube and TikTok. He also dabbled in trending video formulas that still felt true to him. For example, Teasley posted a mukbang video of him and his friends eating a spread of seafood. While mukbangs weren't his usual content, the video felt personal, like an intimate look at friends instead of something more performative.
Police concluded that Watkins killed Teasley after their argument, choking him to death. On Twitter, one commenter noted that Teasley is sadly not the first social media star to die "at the hands of romantic partners," likely referring to Gabby Petito, who disappeared in 2021 and was later found dead. Another commenter weighed in on the senseless nature of the tragedy, adding, "I also can't believe how many murders I've heard about that stemmed from arguments over video games. I truly cannot imagine being so angry over an imaginary image on my TV screen that I would want to kill a loved one." Officials shared a similar sentiment in their report on the case.
Deeper than meets the eye
In an official statement, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said, "We see far too often across the country these days when people resort to violence over trivial and insignificant disagreements. There is never a reason where violence is acceptable over a disagreement. Those who do so will be held accountable."
Watkins had one prior run-in with the police, for malicious destruction of property, but otherwise had no previous charges against him. The couple had been together for 10 years, though they'd posted at least one video about their struggles to remain faithful online. Comments on the video made after the news of Teasley's death noted that it seems as though something much more serious than a video game rivalry was going on, and that Watkins may have harbored negative feelings towards Teasley. "This is deeper than meets the eye," one commenter said. Others were surprised that the two were making videos together so recently, just a month ago. Things seemed fine, some commenters noted.
Watkins was taken into custody and quickly arraigned, charged with second-degree murder. According to Click On Detroit, his trial will move quickly, with the next steps taking place in late January.
Unfortunately, Teasley's case is only the latest in several crimes involving content creators. In 2021, a popular "Skyrim" TikTok star was charged with a brutal murder, shocking fans across the globe. While sometimes video games do kill people in real life, the reasoning is seldom as grim as in Teasley's case.
The day Teasley died, he posted a video joking about getting older and beginning to feel his age. Teasley was 28.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.