KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Kansas City family is mourning the death of a social media star gone too soon.
Alysha Burney, who had amassed more than 5 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, died in her sleep on March 2 while vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. She was 24 years old and was set to turn 25 the very next day.
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In addition to her immense online following, the Kansas City native owned her own production company, “ABurneyProductions,” which had already produced a film and had more projects in the works.
“She was not selfish with her knowledge and was a very open book about her journey. She will always be dearly loved, and her legacy will live on forever,” said Charles Burney, Alysha’s brother.
“Alysha was very goal-oriented, creative, and passionate about giving back. She graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Digital Media Production and was working towards her graduate degree,” he added.
Charles was with his sister when she passed away. He tells FOX4 that she died after having an asthma attack while she was asleep.
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Due to her status and large following on social media, several rumors have circulated about her passing—rumors he wants to dispel.
“She does not do drugs. She was a self-loving and happy individual who cherished her life and was looking forward to the upcoming year’s plans. She was in Mexico to celebrate her birthday. She was a very classy young woman,” he said.
“There’s a spread of misinformation online, stating different things based on speculation. These sources lack credibility and should not be believed. My sister did not engage in environments that would lead to such situations,” Charles Burney added.
Friends from her college days describe Alysha as driven—a trait reflected in her work. She produced films such as Shiesty, Shiesty II, Lost Angeles, and her latest project, Hot Girl Get Away, all of which can be found on her YouTube channel.
When she was 19, Alysha was hand-selected to audition for the TV show Wild ‘N Out. While she didn’t get selected, her family says the experience drove her to achieve the heights she ultimately reached.
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“Her lifelong goal was to be a writer and a director. Another goal she had was to return to Kansas City, open a production studio, and help other young creatives from Kansas City get to where she was,” Charles said.
Alysha had been living in Los Angeles and was a graduate of the University of Central Missouri.
As this story develops, FOX4 will continue to provide updates.
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