Lamarr Wilson

Lamarr Wilson
Lamarr Wilson smiling and looking at the camera during a podcast recording.
Wilson during an appearance on the Techsploder podcast, June 2024
Born(1977-10-22)October 22, 1977
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedNovember 21, 2025(2025-11-21) (aged 48)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations
AwardsWebby Award (People's Voice, 2014)
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2008–2025
Genres
Subscribers2.21 million[‡ 1]
Views310 million[‡ 1]
Last updated: December 22, 2025
Websitelamarrwilson.com

Lamarr Wilson (/ləˈmɑːr ˈwɪlsən/ luh-MAR-WIL-sən;[1] October 22, 1977 – November 21, 2025) was an American YouTuber, technology journalist, and educator. He produced product reviews and comedic "unboxing" videos for consumer electronics. In a seventeen-year career, Wilson had amassed 2.2 million subscribers on YouTube and over one million followers across TikTok and Instagram. By focusing on personality and accessibility over technical specifications, he was credited with helping popularize unboxing as a mainstream content genre and brought his educational technology background to his presentation style.

Before his media career, Wilson worked as a technology coordinator in the Chicago Public Schools system and founded an educational technology consulting firm. Wilson's coverage of Nintendo products and "lifestyle" technology reviews led to collaborations with companies, including Microsoft, Google and Nintendo.  Wilson created his YouTube channel in 2008, initially posting vlogs before transitioning to product testing. He contributed to multiple media platforms, hosting series for Mashable and TWiT.tv, and won a Webby Award (People's Voice) in 2014 for co-hosting the debut episode of Takei's Take with actor George Takei. He was a frequent presence at industry events such as VidCon and the Summer Game Fest. During the George Floyd protests in 2020, Wilson addressed racial inequity in technology and media. Later in his career, Wilson transitioned to short-form vertical formats, including TikTok and YouTube Shorts.

Wilson died by suicide at his home in Los Angeles in November 2025; his family withheld the announcement until the following month. At the time of his death, he was negotiating new media contracts and had been selected to judge the 2026 CES Innovation Awards. His death drew tributes from figures across the gaming and technology industries, while commentators in outlets such as The Root and Livemint analyzed his death within the context of a mental health crisis affecting African American men and the psychological pressures associated with managing a public persona online.

Life and career

1977–2007: Early life and career beginnings

Lamarr Wilson was born on October 22, 1977, in Chicago, Illinois.[2][3] Wilson graduated from high school in 1995; he later attributed his senior-year work-study position at Best Buy to an interest in consumer electronics.[‡ 2] He worked as a technology coordinator for K–8 public schools in Milwaukee and for the Chicago Public Schools system.[4][5] While working for Chicago Public Schools, Wilson served as a Technology Co-Coordinator for the Striving Readers Initiative.[6] He also served as president of Wilson EduTech, Inc.,[7][8] a consulting firm which he founded to help teachers use technology in classrooms.[‡ 3]

His educational background would later influence his presentation style on YouTube; Inc. magazine observed that Wilson addressed general audiences using non-technical language rather than targeting technology enthusiasts.[4] In 2004, he founded the organization Chess in Chicago to promote scholastic competition; he served as the group's webmaster and provided photo documentation for state tournaments.[9][10] In an interview with Chicago Tribune, he described his teaching method, which framed the strategy game as a "war game" to better engage younger players.[9]

2008–2012: YouTube beginnings and early content

After attending a workshop on social media video production, Wilson created his YouTube channel in 2008 as what he later described as "an antidote to summer boredom and a tutorial on video editing."[4][11][‡ 3] His initial uploads consisted of vlogs filmed in his apartment, documenting daily life and aspects of his technology coordinator work.[‡ 3] For the first two years, he developed what he characterized as a "modest following" making videos about school and technology.[4] He later began filming "unboxing" videos—self-made documentaries capturing the moment a gadget or product is removed from its packaging—under the nickname "That Unboxing Guy".[3][4] Wilson's unboxing videos focused on consumer electronics, video games, and snack foods[12][3]—items ranged from current iPhone models and gaming consoles to Loot Crate boxes and Oreo cookies.[13][12][3] His reviews occasionally featured unconventional demonstrations; Atlas Obscura noted a video in which he used a baseball bat to test a travel mug's suction.[14]

In May 2012, YouTube selected Wilson as one of sixteen creators for its "Next Vlogger" program, which provided $15,000 in funding—split between $5,000 worth of video equipment and $10,000 in promotional support—and mentorship from established content creators including iJustine.[15] The sixteen selected channels had together accumulated more than 125 million views before entering the program.[15] Wilson decided to pursue content creation full-time and relocated to Los Angeles later that year, where he remained until his death.[‡ 3][5]

2013–2014: Hosting and Takei's Take

Lamarr Wilson looking at the camera during the Daily Tech News Show podcast on June 3, 2014
Wilson on the Daily Tech News Show podcast, June 2014

In 2013, the production companies Fullscreen and Portal A cast Wilson as co-host for the premiere of Takei's Take, a web series led by Star Trek actor George Takei. Sponsored by the AARP, the show focused on teaching older adults about new technology.[2][16] In the first episode, Wilson demonstrated Google Glass in what USA Today described as a "tech reporter" capacity.[17] The episode won a People's Voice Webby Award in 2014 in the "Online Film & Video: Technology" category.[‡ 4][2]

Simultaneously, he joined the TWiT.tv network, managed by Leo Laporte. On the network, he hosted This Week in YouTube, a program analyzing viral videos and channel news.[18] Other outlets sought his analysis on platform updates, including The Daily Dot, which published his February 2013 commentary on the rumored introduction of paid channel subscriptions.[19] Wilson's style differed from that of technical reviewers; critics described him as a "lifestyle" technology reporter who prioritized entertainment and accessibility over detailed technical analyses.[3][4] His presentation style was characterized by a "playful sense of humor" and "unvarnished opinions"; The Hollywood Reporter later noted that this approach allowed him to function as an "original" voice in a saturated market who balanced serious content with fun.[11]

In describing his own on-camera persona, Wilson referred to himself as an "ex-Apple hater" who had overcome "a morbid fear of things that are easy to use."[‡ 5] Starting in 2014, he hosted two video series for Mashable: YouTube Weekly and Socially Awkward.[2][20] Wilson contributed to the Daily Tech News Show podcast for ten years.[2][21]

2014–2019: Channel growth and commercial model

The camera is the biggest bullshit detector.

—Lamarr Wilson, on the importance of authenticity in reviews (2016)[‡ 6]

Wilson began reviewing limited-edition Nintendo products in late 2014. Inc. identified his coverage of the Nintendo Amiibo toys-to-life figures in 2014 as his "a-ha moment" for channel growth; the magazine describing it as "ripping them out like a 6-year-old kid"—resonated with audiences in a way his more measured earlier videos had not. The magazine reported that Wilson's subscriber base jumped from 200,000 to 700,000 during this period, which led to formal partnerships with Microsoft and Xbox.[4]

Through frequent partnerships with manufacturers including Nintendo, Microsoft, Apple Inc., and Google, Wilson often featured limited-edition promotional kits and influencer boxes in his videos.[a] To preserve his audience's confidence, he disclosed these commercial affiliations, stating in 2016 that transparency was necessary to maintain trust: "If I don't like something, I will say it."[4] To maintain viewer interest, Wilson deliberately withheld certain details during unboxings and incorporated elements of "mystery".[‡ 6]

A man with short hair wearing a blue-and-white t-shirt and headphones.
Wilson on the Daily Tech News Show podcast, February 2017.

Marli Guzzetta of Inc. wrote that while creators like Marques Brownlee focused on detailed specifications, Wilson used "organic excitement" to appeal to casual consumers, creating a dynamic where viewers felt they were "hanging out with him after a trip to the store."[4] Framing his videos to appeal to viewers who "live vicariously" through unboxing content, Wilson acknowledged that many commenters did not have the means to purchase the featured products, noting, "They love seeing me unbox, because they don't see it as bragging."[‡ 6][4] Inc. reported that his audience demographics were primarily men aged 25 to 34, though he was aware of a significant viewership among children.[4] In a 2016 analysis of what children were watching on YouTube, Caroline Knorr of HuffPost observed that Wilson used an "engaging personality to entertain families," differentiating his channel through the inclusion of skits, taste tests, and "awkward questions."[12]

By 2016, Wilson maintained a production schedule of five videos per week and had reached nearly one million subscribers.[4] His most popular video of that era, "Fat Guy Falls Off Hoverboard!", accumulated 2.5 million views.[4] Between 2017 and 2019, while continuing to upload reviews, he moved toward including "casual vlogging" and real-life interactions—such as returning a router to the post office while grabbing a Shake Shack burger, or discussing shows he watched on his iPhone while waiting in line—to build a narrative beyond product reviews.[4][14][‡ 7] In describing this evolution, Wilson told Inc. that "people are really into the reality format on YouTube. They like stories. They just want to know what you're doing with your life."[4]

2020–2025: Later career and death

Wilson pictured January 2020 in a blue shirt on podcast
Wilson on the Daily Tech News Show podcast, January 2020

During the George Floyd protests in June 2020, Wilson used his platform to address racial inequity within the media and technology industries. In a video published that month, he stated, "No one's asking for black people to be treated above you, just a level playing field," according to KTLA.[25] Following the protests, the website TechRadar listed him as a creator to follow to support black voices in technology.[26] He subsequently appeared at industry events as a featured creator. He appeared on the Xbox Games Showcase pre-show on July 23, 2020, alongside creators such as Jacksepticeye, Alanah Pearce, and MatPat, offering his reactions and insights on upcoming Microsoft announcements.[27] That same year, he appeared as a guest for the Summer Game Fest with Geoff Keighley, participating in YouTube Gaming's exclusive programming for the digital event, which featured Wilson and other creators sharing "PlayStation memories" before Sony's PlayStation 5 reveal.[28] In 2021,[‡ 2] Wilson changed his video format to prioritize short-form vertical video on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube Shorts.[3][5]

In June 2025, The Hollywood Reporter named Wilson one of "11 Influencers You Need to Know," noting his scheduled speaking appearance as part of VidCon's initiative to feature educational creators.[11] That December, the Consumer Technology Association selected Wilson to serve as a judge for the 2026 CES Innovation Awards, scheduled to take place in Las Vegas in January.[5] By 2025, PCWPlus reported that Wilson had 2.21 million subscribers on YouTube,[3] while 20 Minutos noted that he had amassed over one million followers across TikTok and Instagram.[5]

Wilson documented his personal health in late 2025. On October 22, he posted a photo on Instagram update detailing a 48 lb (22 kg) weight loss following a "health scare." He wrote that he shed the weight "naturally" through discipline and felt "genuinely at peace." In the caption, Wilson also advised removing people "determined to disrupt [his life] with their inner chaos" and he concluded the caption with his final message to his audience: "I'll see you in the video!"[2][5] Shortly after, Wilson attended an event for creators hosted by Forbes Creator Upfronts in Los Angeles.[3][5]

Death

Concern arose in mid-November when his audience noticed that Wilson, whose final video reviewing Belkin charging stations was uploaded on November 12, 2025,[3][29] had stopped his usual schedule of multiple weekly updates.[29][3]

On November 21, 2025, Wilson was found dead at his home in Los Angeles.[2][30] The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner ruled the death a result of asphyxia and suffocation.[29] His uncle, Tony Wilson, issued a statement on Facebook on December 13 confirming the death. He noted that Wilson was actively negotiating media contracts at the time of his death. In a public statement, the family described him as a key figure in their lives and thanked his audience for their support.[31][20]

Reactions and analysis

The technology and gaming communities paid tribute to Wilson. Xbox executive Aaron Greenberg, a longtime friend, acknowledged Wilson's ability to explain complex technology and announced a donation to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in his honor, while The Game Awards creator Geoff Keighley and the Consumer Technology Association issued statements acknowledging his role within the gaming and technology creator community and his contributions to industry events.[32][‡ 8]

Commentators also analyzed the implications of his death within the context of mental health. Livemint reported that his death brought "renewed attention to the pressures faced by high-profile digital creators," noting the "unseen mental and emotional strain" associated with maintaining an upbeat public persona.[21] Writing for The Root, Lawrence Ware placed Wilson's death in the context of a "mental health crisis" affecting Black men in 2025, citing a 25.2% increase in suicide rates among the demographic between 2018 and 2023. Ware listed Wilson alongside other figures—such as DJ Commando and Kyren Lacy—who died by suicide that year.[33]

Fans and media outlets, including Black Enterprise and the New York Daily News, referred to him as the "Tech Lifestyle Entertainer".[29][20] In Hungary, PCWPlus noted that his moniker "That Unboxing Guy" had become a "trademark" for the genre, crediting him with popularizing the format before it became a mainstream standard.[3] In a retrospective, the magazine described Wilson as a "defining online personality" of the platform's early era, reporting that fellow creators praised his "directness, helpfulness, and infectious sense of humor" within the community.[3] Following his death, Livemint described him as a "leading voice in the technology lifestyle space" who had formed a reputation as a "trusted online host" through accessible content.[21] Wilson influenced the technology community; fellow creator Austin Evans noted in a tribute that Wilson was instrumental in his transition from standard technical reviews toward more personality-centered videos.[20][‡ 9]

Selected videography

Selected videos and online appearances
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2013 Takei's Take (Episode 1) Co-host Series for AARP; winner of Webby Award (2014) [16]
2013 This Week in YouTube Host Series for TWiT.tv [18]
2014 YouTube Weekly Host/Producer Series for Mashable [29]
2013–2014 Socially Awkward Host Series for Mashable [2]
2020 Summer Game Fest Guest "PlayStation Memories" panel [28]
2020 Xbox Games Showcase Guest Official Microsoft event [27]

Awards and nominations

Awards received by Wilson
Year Organization Category Work Result Ref.
2014 Webby Awards Online Film & Video: Technology Takei's Take (with George Takei) People's Voice [‡ 4]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Attributed to multiple sources:[22][23][24][21]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Entertainment Tonight (December 22, 2025). Lamarr Wilson, Tech Influencer, Dead at 48. CBS Media Ventures. Archived from the original on December 22, 2025. Retrieved December 22, 2025 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Lyttle, Zoey (December 19, 2025). "Award-Winning Tech Influencer Lamarr Wilson's Cause of Death at 48 Revealed". People. Dotdash Meredith. ISSN 0093-7673. Archived from the original on December 20, 2025. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Hajdu, Gabor (December 24, 2025). "Elhunyt Lamarr Wilson, a YouTube ikonikus unboxing arca" [Lamarr Wilson, the iconic face of YouTube unboxing, has passed away]. PCWPlus (in Hungarian). Project029 Magyarország Szolgáltató Kft. ISSN 1785-4717. Archived from the original on December 29, 2025. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Inc 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Mora, D. (December 23, 2025). "Conmoción por la muerte del 'influencer' de tecnología Lamarr Wilson a los 48 años" [Shock over the death of technology 'influencer' Lamarr Wilson at 48]. 20 Minutos (in Spanish). ISSN 1887-8342. Archived from the original on December 29, 2025. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  6. ^ Simon, Alan J.; Tunik, Jonathan (March 2011). Chicago Public Schools Striving Readers Initiative: Year Four Evaluation Report (PDF) (Technical report). Chicago Public Schools. ED600938. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 11, 2025. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  7. ^ Wyld, David C. (2007). The Blogging Revolution: Government in the Age of Web 2.0 (PDF) (Technical report). IBM Center for The Business of Government. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 7, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  8. ^ Wyld, David C. (2007). "What the Blogging Revolution Means for You and Your Company: A Look at the Corporate World of Web 2.0". Competition Forum. 5 (1): 173–178. ProQuest 214846512.
  9. ^ a b "The right moves". Chicago Tribune. Chicago: Tribune Publishing. February 17, 2004. ISSN 1085-6706. Archived from the original on June 26, 2025. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  10. ^ "The Illinois Chess Bulletin" (PDF). The Illinois Chess Bulletin. 27 (2). Illinois Chess Association. March 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 7, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2026. Also thanks to Lamar [sic] Wilson, the techno-savvy webmaster of the Chess In Chicago website, for his stellar coverage of this championship event.
  11. ^ a b c Zeitchik, Steven; Weprin, Alex (June 18, 2025). "The View From VidCon: 11 Influencers You Need to Know". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation. ISSN 0018-3660. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  12. ^ a b c Knorr, Caroline (February 11, 2016). "What Kids Are Really Watching on YouTube". HuffPost. Common Sense Media. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  13. ^ Jackson, Amanda (January 20, 2016). "New flavor of Oreos hits the stores". CNN. Warner Bros. Discovery. Archived from the original on December 22, 2025. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  14. ^ a b Smith, Ernie (March 29, 2017). "The Strange Business of Suction Cups". Atlas Obscura. Archived from the original on January 17, 2025. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  15. ^ a b Cohen, Joshua (May 9, 2012). "YouTube's Next Goal: Catapulting 16 Vloggers to More than 125M Views". Tubefilter. Archived from the original on March 7, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2026.
  16. ^ a b Gutelle, Sam (September 17, 2013). "George Takei Expands Social Media Savvy To AARP-Branded Web Series". Tubefilter. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  17. ^ Hurwitz, Daniel (September 17, 2013). "TV on the Web: 'Takei's Take' on tech hits YouTube". USA Today. Gannett. Archived from the original on May 18, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  18. ^ a b Roettgers, Janko (March 18, 2013). "Leo Laporte's TWiT takes on YouTube hits with new show". Yahoo! Finance. GigaOm. Archived from the original on November 19, 2013. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  19. ^ "Would you pay for YouTube subscriptions?". The Daily Dot. February 13, 2013. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  20. ^ a b c d Spiller, Mary (December 29, 2025). "Popular Tech YouTuber Lamarr Wilson Dies At 48". Black Enterprise. Archived from the original on January 3, 2026. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  21. ^ a b c d "Lamarr Wilson's cause of death revealed weeks after tech content creator's death at 48". Livemint. December 20, 2025. Archived from the original on December 20, 2025. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  22. ^ "The Rock e Xbox enviam geladeiras do Series X para influencers" [The Rock and Xbox send Series X fridges to influencers]. The Enemy (in Portuguese). Omelete. March 18, 2021. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  23. ^ Martin, Alan (October 29, 2023). "Apple doubles down on spooky for its 'Scary Fast' M3 Mac event". Tom's Guide. Future plc. Archived from the original on October 5, 2025. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  24. ^ Redacción AJ (May 14, 2015). "Los más vendidos de abril de 2015 en la eShop" [The best sellers of April 2015 in the eShop]. Areajugones (in Spanish). Sport. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  25. ^ DeMuro, Rich (June 5, 2020). "Content creators stray from their typical topics to get real with their audiences about racism, activism". KTLA. Nexstar Media Group. Archived from the original on December 22, 2025. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  26. ^ "Black Lives Matter: here's how you can help right now". TechRadar. Future plc. June 4, 2020. Archived from the original on March 26, 2025. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  27. ^ a b Romano, Sal (July 23, 2020). "Xbox Games Showcase 2020 live stream". Gematsu. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  28. ^ a b Weiss, Geoff (June 10, 2020). "YouTube Pacts with Geoff Keighley for Exclusive 'Summer Game Fest' Programming". Tubefilter. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  29. ^ a b c d e Kwarm, Vivian (December 19, 2025). "Tech influencer Lamarr Wilson dies by suicide at 48". New York Daily News. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on December 20, 2025. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  30. ^ "48-Year-Old US Tech Influencer Lamarr Wilson's Cause Of Death Revealed | Details Here". CNN-News18. Network18 Group. December 20, 2025. Archived from the original on January 2, 2026. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  31. ^ Abdur-Rahman, Nahlah (December 21, 2025). "Tech Influencer Lamarr Wilson Dead At 48". Black Enterprise. Archived from the original on December 30, 2025. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  32. ^ Gilbert, Fraser (December 23, 2025). "Xbox Exec Pays Respects To Beloved Influencer And 'Incredible Human', Lamarr Wilson". Pure Xbox. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on December 23, 2025. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  33. ^ Ware, Lawrence (December 23, 2025). "Black Men Are Committing Suicide at an Alarming Rate, But This Is How To Help". The Root. Archived from the original on December 23, 2025. Retrieved December 23, 2025.

Sources

Primary sources

In the text, these references are preceded by a double dagger (‡):

  1. ^ a b "Lamarr Wilson's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on December 22, 2025. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Wilson, Lamarr; Howell, Jason (June 28, 2024). Lamarr Wilson // Techsploder Podcast #9 (Video). YouTube. Event occurs at 06:00. Archived from the original on December 27, 2025. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d Carrasco, Ed (January 8, 2013). "Lamarr Wilson YouTube Tech Reporter". New Media Rockstars. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "George Takei and Lamarr Wilson Explore Google Glass | Episode 1". The Webby Awards. Archived from the original on June 1, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  5. ^ Pierini, David (July 28, 2016). "Why do some folks hate Apple? It's complicated". Cult of Mac. Archived from the original on December 28, 2025. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c Pierini, David (August 3, 2016). "YouTube feeds addiction for tech unboxing obsession". Cult of Mac. Archived from the original on December 24, 2025. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  7. ^ Lamarr Wilson (January 15, 2019). $220 LeBron 16 OREO Hypebeast PICKUP! + 2019 Studio Tour!. Archived from the original on December 21, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2026 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ "Meet the Judges of the CES Innovation Awards® 2026 Program!". CES Innovation Awards. Consumer Technology Association. Archived from the original on December 20, 2025. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  9. ^ Austin Evans (December 19, 2025). Goodbye Lamarr. Event occurs at 3:36. Archived from the original on February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 10, 2026 – via YouTube.

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