California-based food creator Michael Duarte, best known online as FoodWithBearHands, has died following what’s been described as a “horrible accident” while traveling with his family in Texas.
Duarte built a loyal following of more than two million across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook, where he shared cooking videos focused on barbecue and grilled recipes.
His talent agency, Alooma Media Group, confirmed his death on November 9, writing, “It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our valued client and dear friend, Michael Duarte. His passion, professionalism, and creativity left a lasting mark… his legacy of integrity, compassion, and dedication will continue to live on through the lives he touched.”
Family and legacy of Michael Duarte
According to a GoFundMe organized by friends and reshared on his social accounts, Duarte died on November 8 while traveling in Texas with his wife, Jessica, and their six-year-old daughter, Oakley. The post described the incident as a “horrible accident” and asked supporters to keep the family in their prayers as Jessica works to return his remains to California and cover funeral expenses.
Duarte grew up in Calipatria, California, near the U.S.–Mexico border, and learned to cook at 14 while working at his uncle’s small Mexican restaurant. He later worked in several San Diego kitchens before launching his content career during the pandemic.
In a previous Instagram post, Duarte opened up about leaving restaurant work during a “mental health crisis,” entering rehab, and finding happiness again through creating food videos. “That’s when I realized how happy creating content made me,” he wrote. “It wasn’t just a hobby, it could be a business, something bigger than myself.
Duarte often featured his daughter in his videos and described his purpose as “sharing food with people who need it the most.”
