Tex Kelly/TikTok
- TikTok star John Kelly has died unexpectedly, according to a GoFundMe page launched by his stepson.
- In just 11 hours, they've raised almost $15,000 to help with hospital bills and expenses.
- The pair's joint TikTok account @texandjohn had 2.5 million followers and nearly 50 million views.
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John Kelly, one half of the popular TikTok duo @texandjohn, has died, according to a TikTok video and GoFundMe campaign launched by his stepson Tex Kelly on Monday August 9.
On TikTok, Tex posted a video compiling family photos and clips from past videos he made with his father, captioned, "You'll always be my hero. Until next time Dad. I love you so much." A text overlay read, "Rest In Peace Dad I love you."
Tex also announced the death via a GoFundMe page set up to help with expenses. The page is linked in the bio of the pair's joint TikTok account, which is currently still live. Just 11 hours after it launched, it has raised $14,372 of its $15,000 goal.
Although a cause of death for John has not been confirmed, Tex said in a statement on the page that his passing was a "surprise."
"It comes with a great pain to let you all know today about the loss of an incredible man," he wrote. "Dad's passing was a surprise to us all and something that we will be feeling the toll of for a very long time."
He added, "My family and I are absolutely devastated by his passing and while we are trying to still process all of this, life is unapologetically continuing all around us with hospital bills and expenses," he wrote.
Tex and John Kelly's joint TikTok account, @texandjohn, amassed 2.5 million followers and nearly 50 million views combined since they launched their account with a prank video in January 2021.
The stepfather and stepson duo built a fanbase with various TikToks posted during the pandemic that focussed on their close bond and various pranks they pulled on each other, with videos usually starting with Tex saying the phrase "Hey dad."
Although John isn't Tex's biological father, the 24-year-old explained in a TikTok posted on July 1 that John met his mother when he was four, and the two got 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 wrote.
Before moving to LA to pursue an acting career, Tex lived with John and the rest of his family in Eureka, California. Outside of social media, John was the co-owner of Humboldt construction.
Tex Kelly did not immediately respond to Insider's request for further comment.
For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here.