Popular fox rescue YouTuber Mikayla Raines has died by suicide after experiencing online bullying, her husband said.
In an emotional video shared via the SaveAFox Rescue’s YouTube channel on Monday, June 23, Raines’ husband, Ethan, claimed the Minnesota-based fox rescue founder had been dealing with “ridiculous claims and rumors” being spread about her online for a “few years,” including from rival animal sanctuaries. “And being the sensitive human that she was, Mikayla took it all to heart,” Ethan said.
According to Ethan, Raines “ended her life” a “couple [of] days ago” amid more “rude words, accusations and name-calling” shared online by people “she considered close friends.”
Ethan, who noted that Raines struggled with autism, depression and borderline personality disorder, said his wife’s borderline personality disorder caused “emotional instability as well as impulsive behaviors.” Following the recent criticism, he said that Raines “felt as if the entire world had turned against her.”
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“She couldn’t bear what she was feeling any longer and she ended her life,” Ethan said. “It breaks my heart that someone who is selfless and devoted her life to animals could have so much negativity pointed at her.”
He continued, “And to those of you that pushed her to this, every one of you that had been responsible for making her feel this way, I wish you had to see me find her and I wish you had to watch me perform CPR on her for 15 minutes until the first responders arrived. And I wish you had to watch helplessly as paramedics attempted to revive her lifeless body. And I wish you had to hear the screams and the cries of her family.”
“I wish you had to see tiny heartbroken Freya try to understand why she could never see her mommy again,” he added, referring to his and Raines’ daughter.
“I wish you understood what you were doing before you did it before it had to go this far and I wish you understood that words do have real and terrible consequences,” Ethan said.
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Ethan concluded the video by sharing that he plans to continue his wife’s mission with the rescue. “I will not let Mikayla’s light be extinguished,” he said. “I’m going to continue to push to rescue the remaining fur farm foxes and, after that, save as many animals as possible.”
“I love you, Mikayla. I will always love you so much and I miss you,” he ended the video.
Raines founded SaveAFox Rescue in 2017. The nonprofit organization amassed over 2 million followers on its YouTube channel and over 500,000 followers on Instagram.
Ethan also shared the video via the SaveAFox Instagram page on Monday, alongside the caption, “We have suffered a loss that is unimaginable. Mikayla was truly the most amazing and inspiring individual I have ever known, and not having her here makes everything feel empty. I feel broken. But I will continue her dream, and I hope to have your support going forward so that we can do good in her name.”
Us Weekly has reached out to SaveAFox Rescue for further comment.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
