Beloved Food Creator Michael Duarte, Known as “FoodWithBearHands,” Tragically Dies in a “Horrible Accident” During Family Trip to Texas — Just Days After Celebrating His Wedding Anniversary
The online food community is mourning the devastating loss of Michael Duarte, a 36-year-old California-based influencer best known to millions as “FoodWithBearHands.” Duarte, whose energetic videos and heartwarming approach to cooking made him one of social media’s most beloved creators, died in what his family described as a “horrible accident” while traveling in Texas with his wife and daughter. His death, which occurred just days after he and his wife celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary, has sent waves of grief through fans and fellow creators alike.
Duarte’s agency, Alooma Media Group, confirmed the heartbreaking news in a statement posted to Instagram on Sunday, describing him as “a devoted husband, father, brother, and friend.” The company praised Duarte not just for his creativity but for the authenticity and compassion he brought to everything he did. “Michael’s warmth, humor, and passion for sharing food touched millions,” the statement read. “He was more than a creator; he was a light in our community.”
Born and raised in California, Duarte’s journey from kitchen worker to digital sensation was one marked by resilience and reinvention. He grew up helping in his uncle’s restaurant, developing an early fascination with the way food could bring people together. “That’s where it started,” he said in a 2023 interview. “The smell of the grill, the noise of the kitchen — it was chaos, but it felt like home.”
After years working behind the scenes in local eateries, Duarte began posting short videos online during the pandemic — often shot in his backyard or small home kitchen. At first, the clips were simple: sizzling steak on a cast-iron pan, tacos prepared for his daughter, or barbecue ribs cooked slowly over open flame. His voice, calm but passionate, narrated the process in an inviting tone that drew viewers in. But what truly made his videos stand out was his presence — friendly, unpretentious, and filled with humor. He often reminded followers that “good food doesn’t need to be fancy — it just needs to be shared.”
His follower count soared as he turned that message into a personal brand, “FoodWithBearHands.” By 2025, Duarte had amassed over two million followers across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook. He collaborated with major food brands, appeared at culinary expos, and became a fixture in the food influencer scene. Fans loved his down-to-earth energy and the way he integrated family life into his content, often featuring his wife Jessica and their daughter Oakley in playful cameos.
But behind his cheerful demeanor, Duarte was also candid about life’s challenges. He spoke openly about his struggles with mental health, sobriety, and self-worth — topics he hoped would help others. “Cooking saved me,” he once said in a video that went viral for its vulnerability. “When I didn’t feel good enough for anything, food reminded me that I could still make something that made people smile.”
That sense of honesty made Duarte more than just an entertainer. To his followers, he was a friend. His comment sections often filled with stories from fans who said his videos inspired them to cook, to reconnect with loved ones, or to simply find peace in small joys. “He made us feel like family,” one follower wrote after his passing. “He showed us that kindness belongs in the kitchen as much as salt and pepper.”
Tragically, the light he shared was cut short far too soon. While details of the accident initially remained unclear, Duarte’s family confirmed that he died while on a family trip to Texas earlier this month. The news broke on November 9, when Alooma Media Group shared the agency’s statement and tributes began to pour in from across the world.
A GoFundMe campaign was launched by friends and colleagues to support Duarte’s wife and daughter, helping with travel expenses, funeral costs, and ongoing care. The page described him as a man whose “heart was as big as his appetite,” and whose final days were filled with laughter, love, and gratitude. “Three days before the accident, Michael and Jessica celebrated their ninth anniversary,” the post reads. “They shared a beautiful dinner, talked about the future, and spent time with their daughter. No one could have imagined what would happen next.”
In the days following his passing, news outlets confirmed additional details that painted a more complex picture of the tragedy. According to local reports from Medina County, Texas, deputies responded to a 911 call describing a man “acting erratically” in a residential area near Castroville. The man was later identified as Duarte. Officials say that when deputies arrived, Duarte appeared distressed and refused multiple commands to drop a knife he was holding. When he advanced toward an officer, two shots were fired. Duarte was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Authorities have not released further details about what may have triggered the incident, though his agency described the entire episode as a “horrible accident.” For his family and fans, the specifics matter less than the heartbreak of losing a husband, father, and friend. “We want people to remember Michael for his heart,” his wife Jessica told one local outlet. “He was kind, generous, and always trying to make life brighter for others.”
In the days since his passing, Duarte’s social media pages have transformed into memorials. Thousands of fans have flooded his recent posts with condolences, sharing favorite recipes and memories from the past few years. Fellow influencers have dedicated cooking videos in his honor — grilling the dishes he loved most, from tri-tip steak to homemade tortillas. One creator posted, “We’re lighting the grill tonight for you, brother. Thank you for showing us how to love what we do.”
The loss has also prompted a larger conversation about the pressure faced by content creators, particularly those who build their livelihoods around constant output and public engagement. Many in the influencer community have called for greater awareness and support for creators’ mental health, reminding audiences that “behind every viral video is a real person with real struggles.” Duarte’s story — one of triumph, vulnerability, and sudden tragedy — has become a rallying point for empathy in an industry that often celebrates perfection.
Despite the heartbreak, Jessica Duarte has said she wants her husband’s legacy to live on through the community he built. “He believed in sharing,” she wrote in a message shared on her Instagram Stories. “He always said food was love, and that love doesn’t end when we’re gone. I want to keep that message alive for Oakley — that her dad changed lives, one meal at a time.”
Michael Duarte’s passing has left a profound void in the world of food and storytelling. His work represented more than recipes; it represented human connection. Each video, each smile, each slow-motion shot of sizzling barbecue reminded people to slow down, to savor the present, and to care for others. It’s that humanity — that warmth — that his followers say will endure.
In the end, Duarte’s story is one of a man who built something extraordinary from ordinary beginnings. A restaurant worker turned global influencer, a father who used his platform to bring joy, a husband who celebrated love through cooking — and a creator who left the world with full hearts and hungry souls.
As tributes continue to pour in, one of his final captions now feels like a parting message: “Feed people. Love people. That’s all we’re really here to do.”
