Raines created a successful YouTube channel dedicated to her advocacy efforts rescuing foxes from fur farms.

Animal rescue activist and YouTube star Mikayla Raines has died by suicide, according to her husband. She was 29.

Ethan Raines announced her death in an emotional video he posted to her YouTube channel on Monday.

He said that for years his wife suffered from various mental health issues and struggled to cope with online criticism.

“She couldn’t bear what she was feeling any longer, and she ended her life,” he said. “And it breaks my heart that someone who is selfless and devoted her life to animals could have so much negativity pointed at her.”

  • MystikIncarnate@lemmy.ca
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    6 hours ago

    Genuine question: apart from the people who would profit from the activities she was fighting against, or the would-be patrons of such a business… Why would anyone carry hate for what she was trying to accomplish?

    I know there’s a whole religious argument, which I find to be wretched at the foundation; just because you ‘have dominion’ over creatures does not imply that it’s ok to torture them and/or kill them for their fur unnecessarily…

    Anything else? I just can’t think of anything.

    • Rachel@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      3 hours ago

      I don’t really know any details about how stuff worked beyond just saving foxes, but my random guess would be people calling it woke and attacking that, there are many people who think things involved with helping the environment and things related to that is bad. It seems like anything considered remotely “woke” is attacked because of rhetoric coming from the right wing.

      It seems to be related to fur and there are people who dislike the idea of losing access to animal products like fur coats and leather goods, that is likely related.

    • Rekorse@sh.itjust.works
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      3 hours ago

      Mainly the same criticism of famous social media influencers who are not qualified or experts in the thing they are doing. Being passionate about something doesnt make everything you do the right thing. All that said, I don’t agree that should cause hate, but criticism or opposing opinions were fair in this situation when it comes down to animal welfare.

      Not the ending any reasonable person would want I would hope.

      • MystikIncarnate@lemmy.ca
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        1 hour ago

        That’s a fair point. I would argue that critique and constructive criticism should not be presented in a way that is, in and of itself… Mean (to put it simply).

        There’s a lot of ways to do the wrong thing with the best intentions.