Popular fitness and bodybuilding influencer Jo Lindner – known on social media as Joesthetics – died on Saturday after suffering an aneurysm.[1]
After days of complaining about neck pain, Lindner’s girlfriend, Nicha, shared the unfortunate news of his death on Saturday, July 1, 2023. Her post brought an outpouring of sympathy and fan tributes for the young influencer’s death.
About Joesthetics
Born January 14, 1993, in Regensburg, Germany, Lindner was an avid bodybuilder from a young age. He began bodybuilding in his teen years in Thailand, sharing videos about his fitness routine on social media.
He grew in popularity quickly, especially after competing in bodybuilding shows in the aesthetic category. Fans appreciated his charisma, sense of humor, and candid approach to fitness.
At the time of his death at 30 years old, Lindner has over 8 million subscribers on Instagram and over 900 thousand subscribers on YouTube.[2]
Jo Lindner’s Death
Lindner officially passed on June 30, 2023, but the news wasn’t announced until July 1. His girlfriend, Nicha, posted a heartfelt message to his fans on social media:
“Jo is [in] the best place everyone. Yesterday, his past [he passed] away by aneurysm. I was there with him in the room…he put on the necklace in my neck that he made for me…than..we was just lay down cuddle..waiting the time to go meet Noel at the gym at 16.00..he was in my arms..than this is just happening too fast..3 days ago he kept said that he pain his neck..we not really realize it..until it too late.”
Source: Instagram
In social media posts for days leading up to his death, Lindner complained of neck pain before being rushed to the hospital, but that’s not unusual for his level of training and fitness. His official cause of death is an aneurysm, which is an abnormal swelling in the wall of a blood vessel.[3] Though aneurysms can occur anywhere in the body, they tend to develop along the aorta – the primary artery that runs the length of the torso – and the brain.
Patients can recover from aneurysms with rapid, expert treatment, especially if they’re detected before they rupture, but they’re often fatal.
Joesthetics’ Fans Respond
The sudden death of Joesthetics because of an aneurysm sent shockwaves through the online bodybuilding and fitness community.
Fellow bodybuilding Noel Deyzel – who the couple was planning to meet at the gym – posted a photo of himself and Lindner with the caption, “Rest in peace Jo. I love you man.”
Source: Instagram
Following the news, fans filled his last post with tributes. One follower wrote that “This feels incredibly unreal. May you find eternal peace and strength, Joe. Your legacy will always be remembered, and your memory will live on in the hearts and minds of the millions you inspired.”
Source: Instagram
Another wrote, “Just woke up and saw this news, he is a sweet and loyal person. My deep condolences for Joe’s family. I’m still in shock and getting emotional.”
Rising Influencer Deaths and the Dark Side of Influencer Culture
Lindner is just the latest high-profile influencer to die young – particularly in the fitness space. In mid-June, a Chinese influencer named Cuihua died while attending an intensive weight-loss boot camp in northwestern China at just 21 years old.[4]
On the other end of the spectrum, in late 2022, body positive influencer Jamie Lopez passed away from heart complications. At her heaviest, Lopez weighed over 800 pounds and was bedridden. After losing 400 pounds in just one year, she founded Babydoll Beauty Couture for plus-size women in Las Vegas.
Both of these examples add to a growing issue of untimely deaths among influencers. In May, Heather Armstrong, a prominent momfluencer, took her own life.[5] Chinese influencer Sanqiange also tragically died after broadcasting himself participating in a competition to binge drink a Chinese spirit.[6]
All of these situations – from the unfortunate sudden death of Lindner to Armstrong’s suicide to a deadly drinking challenge – are drawing attention, controversy, and debate to the regulation of the influencer industry and influencer culture.
Social media platforms are increasingly restricting access to certain accounts and features for minors, as well as putting more focus into social media and mental health, but that doesn’t stop authorities from stepping in.
The answer may not be in stricter rules for social media platforms, but influencers and brands committing to providing positive, healthy, and age-appropriate content that offsets the negativity, comparisons, and unrealistic standards many influencers tout.
Is the Influencer Industry Shifting?
The influencer industry is awash with trends that can be unhealthy at best and deadly at worst. Whether it’s unrealistic beauty standards that cause people to go to extremes for acceptance, the pressure of the public eye, or dangerous challenges to earn clout, these deaths are drawing more and more criticism from authorities. If the industry doesn’t take positive steps forward, it could be a detriment to influencers and brands alike.
Sources:
[2] https://nypost.com/2023/07/01/bodybuilder-jo-lindner-known-as-joesthetics-dead-at-30/
[3] https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/aneurysm
[4] https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/17/china/china-influencer-dies-weight-loss-boot-camp-intl-hnk/index.html
[5] https://apnews.com/article/dooce-heather-armstrong-dead-83c8f4812bda1766301793ea3afb02cb
[6] https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/27/asia/chinese-livestreamer-drinking-baijiu-intl-hnk/index.html
