The 27-year-old YouTube star Keenan Cahill died in a sad way.
A source got the news from a family member who said that he had died on Thursday, December 29.
The Chicago, Illinois, resident became famous on the internet by lip-syncing to popular songs on the video-sharing site.
In 2010, he first became well-known for his cover of Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” which has 58 million views to date.
Keenan Cahill went on to work with a lot of famous people as guest artists on his channel, including Jennifer Aniston, 50 Cent, Tinie Tempah, Maroon 5, The Wanted, Justin Bieber, and, of course, Katy Perry.
Maroteaux–Lamy syndrome, which the 27-year-old had, is a condition that gets worse over time and causes many tissues and organs to get bigger, become inflamed or scarred, and eventually, stop working.
After he was diagnosed at age one, he went through a number of treatments, such as a bone marrow transplant in 1997 and surgery to relieve pressure inside his head.
He told his Instagram followers earlier this month that he would be having open heart surgery on December 15.
DJ Pauly D, who used to work with Cahill, is one of the many people paying tribute to the late music star.
He wrote this next to a picture of the two of them behind the DJ booth:
Rip Keenan… Thank You for always making the world smile.
Michael A. MacRae, who writes and directs movies, also posted a picture of the two of them together with the words:
This one stings.
Keenan was so widely loved for his infectious energy he spread on YouTube. He had a passion to make people smile. RIP, friend. See you again. #rip #gonetoosoon #keenancahill.
A WGN Morning News producer said something else:
Sad news: Friend of @WGNMorningNews, one of the first @YouTube sensations, @KeenanCahill passed away after open heart surgery.
Keenan had over 500-million views. From 2010 to 2014, you could not go to a bar, nightclub or use @Google w/out seeing his image. He was 27. #RIPKeenan.
Fans have given Cahill similar heartfelt tributes, such as this one:
He was such a great talent! Sympathies to his family and friends. RIP @KeenanCahill.
Another commented:
Very sad to hear that Keenan Cahill has passed away. I have fond memories of working with him and his team on ‘Hands Up’, a collaboration with Electrovamp.
A third added:
Thank you for making so many people smile.
Cruse Bereavement Care has a national helpline, 0808 808 1677, that you can call if you’ve lost someone and want to talk to someone in private.
