JOHN Kelly, one-half of the popular TikTik account @texandjohn, died suddenly over the weekend, devastated family members have revealed.
The death of the social media star, who ran the TikTok account with his son Tex Kelly, was first confirmed in a touching montage posted to the video-sharing platform late on Sunday.
The clip, featuring a series of family photos and clips from past videos, was shared with their 2.3 million followers with the caption, "You'll always be my hero. Until next time Dad. I love you so much."
A text overlay on the clip also read, "Rest In Peace Dad I love you."
'SURPRISE' DEATH
A cause of death for John has not yet been revealed, but in a statement shared to a GoFundMe page, Tex called his passing a "surprise."
"It comes with a great pain to let you all know today about the loss of an incredible man," the post began. "Dad's passing was a surprise to us all and something that we will be feeling the toll of for a very long time."
The tribute continued that John had lived an "amazing life, full of hard work and love."
"He was never negative," Tex continued, "and as many of you have experienced personally with him, he was always someone you wanted to be around because he made you feel special and loved.
"He was a great father, son, brother, and friend to countless people."
'ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED'
Tex said that both he and his wider family have been left "absolutely devastated" by John's death.
The fundraiser, which has so far amassed over $16,700 in donations, has been set up to help the Kelly family cover John's medical bills and funeral expenses.
In a subsequent statement to Newsweek, Tex remembered his father as an "incredible man who touched the hearts of millions, whether he was making people laugh or helping fathers aspire to be the type of dad he was."
"My family is in a world of pain right now but appreciate the love and support from so many who feel from this loss as well," he added.
"I'm glad so many people got to see my dad, he lived a life worth living."
HUGE FOLLOWING
Tex and John's joint TikTok account launched in January 2021 with a single prank video. In the months that followed they amassed a following of more than 2.5 million and over 50 million views on their page.
The duo built a fanbase with various videos during the pandemic that showcased their close bond and the various pranks they pulled on one another. Their videos often started with the phrase, "Hey dad."
John wasn't Tex's biological father. He explained in a video on July 1 that John met his mother when he was fair, and the pair married a few years later.
"He told us how to fish, how to ride a bike, the difference between right and wrong and everything a great dad would," Tex explained in the clip.
As well as being a social media star, John Kelly was also the co-owner of Humboldt Construction.
He lived with his family in Eureka, California.
Tex, meanwhile, recently relocated to LA to pursue a career in acting.
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