Updated Dec. 9, 2024 – Dominique Brown, 34, a Disney influencer and co-creator of @Blackgirldisney, has died of an apparent severe food allergy reaction.
The Disney enthusiast was attending a Dec. 5 holiday event in Los Angeles, sponsored by collectibles retailer BoxLunch at the Vibiana event space.
The Daily Mail reports that several influencers who attended “said the item she ate was unmarked and she had allegedly been told that the food item did not contain the ingredient she was allergic to.” Then, they said, Brown began having a severe reaction.
NBC News is now reporting that the event’s DJ “turned off the music to announce a medical issue and ask guests for an EpiPen.”
“We are devastated by the passing of Dominique Brown, a beloved member of the BoxLunch Collective, who suffered a medical emergency at an event hosted by BoxLunch Thursday in Los Angeles,” BoxLunch told Allergic Living in a statement on Dec. 7. The collective is a group of influencers the company works with closely.
“Our hearts go out to her family and friends, and we will do everything we can to support them and the members of the BoxLunch Collective and our team during this painful time.” The company also said it is conducting its own investigation into the tragedy.
Us Weekly says a source at the event says 911 was called immediately and that BoxLunch had communicated its guests’ allergies to the venue.
On December 8, one of Brown’s friends started a petition, which can be signed here. It calls for California to require stock epinephrine devices at all restaurants, plus staff training on recognizing and treating allergic reactions. It also urges “real-time ingredient transparency,” including clear communication protocols among chefs, servers, and patrons.
Disney Influencer: Asked About Allergy
A member of a Disney clubhouse on Facebook also heard from event attendees that Brown had spoken up at about her food allergy. Her death “was related to a food allergy that was known and communicated,” Mike Bryck wrote.
On the platform X, poster @hideyagrannies said Brown had been her mom’s best friend and had a severe peanut allergy. “She asked if there was peanuts in the food and everyone told her no,” the poster wrote. (Confirmation of the allergen is not available.)
In a statement to Fortune, the owner of the Vibiana venue expressed sympathy to Brown’s family. “We remain fully committed to our ongoing and comprehensive internal review and to collaborating closely with all parties involved to understand the circumstances surrounding this devastating loss,” the statement said.
Brown, who lived in Long Beach, California, had a charming, upbeat presence on her @HellooDomo page. The Disney influencer had a passion the brand’s theme parks and merchandise. With friend Mia Von, she co-created @Blackgirldisney in 2018.
The pair had noticed a lack of Black representation among Disney influencers. After a DisneyWorld trip, they decided to launch @Blackgirldisney on Instagram and the #blackgirldisney hashtag. They soon gained a following.
In her last Instagram reel, Brown posed in a Winnie the Pooh plush hat and matching Pooh sweater. “This looks so cool,” she said with her dimpled smile.
Disturbing Spate of Allergy Tragedies
After her death, Brown’s brother Patrick Ramos commented on the post. “I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to her social media fam for showing her so much love and light. Disney did bring her joy, but it was unparalleled that she found a community who loved her and Disney as much as she did.
“I will miss my sister and best friend and that infectious smile she always had,” he wrote.
Brown’s shocking death strikes particularly hard, as there have been other allergy deaths in the news in late 2024.
• On Nov. 4, a Wisconsin teen named Hannah Glass, died of an anaphylactic reaction after a bite of a brownie that turned out to contain peanut flour. She was peanut-allergic but hadn’t had a severe reaction in past. She lost consciousness before epinephrine was administered.
• In late November, the family of Alison Pickering came forward to speak of her peanut allergy death in May 2023. The Texan, 23, had eaten at a familiar restaurant on a first date. She ordered a meal she’d had previously, unaware the dish now had a peanut sauce.
• In the United Kingdom, two other allergy tragedies have been in the news.
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