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Suicide of Ronnie McNutt

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Content Warning!
 The following work contains content and material that some may find shocking. Reader discretion is advised.

The Suicide of Ronnie McNutt incident took place on a live stream on Facebook, broadcasted at 9 pm on August 31, 2020. The live stream depicted a 33-year-old war veteran, Ronnie Merle McNutt (May 23, 1987 – August 31, 2020), playing his favorite game, until he shot himself in the face with a single-shot rifle and died of a self-inflicted wound while hundreds of viewers were watching. Like other live-streams, the footage has spread across many social media networks and forums such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Discord, TikTok, 4chan, and many more. This incident caused many controversies, such as internet trolls setting up account impersonations of Ronnie, being used for fraudulent scams or as a bait-and-switch to lure viewers, and computer calls being interrupted by users displaying the video. The video circulated on many websites for its shock value.

“ "Someone in your life needs to hear that they matter. That they are loved. That they have a future. Be the one to tell them" ”
Ronnie McNutt's final message on Facebook
Another photo of Ronnie.

Content

The livestream features 33-year-old Ronnie McNutt playing his favorite game (offscreen) while drunk and angry. He begins ranting about his job and coworkers while viewers frantically try messaging him. After a while, he gets a phone call from someone he knows (most likely his ex-girlfriend). After that, he hangs up the call and says "Hey guys! I guess that's it," and misfires himself with a hunting rifle, blowing his face completely off while his blood splatters on the camera and his brain tissues fall to the floor, while the Samsung ringtone Over the horizon is played. The full video would stay on his bleeding corpse on the chair for a few minutes, until officers arrived at his home after someone alerted the department, only seen in the entire video.

Background

Ronnie had recently broken up with his girlfriend[1] on the night of August 31, 2020.[2] He sent his final message on Facebook at 7:32 p.m., with an image stating "Someone in your life needs to hear that they matter" and "that they are loved. That they have a future. Be the one to tell them. TobyMac #SpeakLife", referring to Toby McKeehan's song "Speak Life". His suicide happened on his live-stream on Facebook[1][3][4] broadcasted at 9 p.m. local time.[4] In the live stream taking place at his home in New Albany, Mississippi, Ronnie appeared very drunk and depressed.[5] There were over 200 viewers[2] who advised him to get help[4], which Ronnie ignored. Moments before committing suicide, Ronnie received a phone call from someone he knew, whether his ex-girlfriend or his mother. At 10:30 p.m.[6] Ronnie pointed the rifle under his chin and fired, blowing off his face completely. The New Albany Police Department was immediately alerted by his friends;[1] however, emergency responders did not arrive at his house until after his death. Facebook stated that this "completed broadcast was on the platform for 2 hours and 41 minutes".[7]

Aftermath

Ronnie's friends, including his close one, Josh Steen,[6] reported the live stream to Facebook before Ronnie killed himself.[5][7][8] At 11:51 pm, Facebook later dismissed one of the reports because it did not violate its guidelines.[1] The video was not taken down by the platform until eight hours later. However, the video had already been uploaded to many platforms, such as YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok. TikTok was also criticized for having the suicide appear on many users' "For You" pages.[9][5][10][6] Media outlets also stated that some re-uploads of the suicide were also disguised as clips of cute animals.[9][1][6] Ronnie's close friend Josh Steen blamed Facebook for failing to remove the video earlier. Facebook responded stating they were "reviewing how we could have taken down the live stream faster."[8]

Steen reported most comments on the live stream as "harassment" to Facebook. Facebook however claimed they dismissed his reports because he was not an account holder. To rub more salt into the wound, trolls were also setting up accounts to impersonate Ronnie on platforms.[2][3][5] Ronnie's mother, Elaine McNutt, also stated that there were many false GoFundMe pages about Ronnie McNutt appearing, and none of them "are legitimate!".[11]

Josh Steen created the Twitter hashtag #ReformForRonnie,[1] to which people could post to "take action against those who violate their policies."[12][13]

One month later, TikTok released a public statement saying, "Our systems have been automatically detecting and flagging these clips for violating our policies against content that displays, praises, glorifies, or promotes suicide. We appreciate our community members who've reported content and warned others against watching, engaging or sharing such videos on any platform, out of respect for the person and their family." Facebook, likewise, publicly stated, "We removed the original video from Facebook last month, on the day it was streamed, and have used automation technology to remove copies and uploads since that time. Our thoughts remain with Ronnie's family and friends during this difficult time."

Ronnie McNutt

 
Ronnie McNutt (left) and Joshua Steen (right) at an event in Alabama.

Ronald Merle "Ronnie" McNutt was born on May 23, 1987, in Mississippi, United States. He was one of five children born to Mr. Cecil Ronald McNutt and Elaine Rooker McNutt. Ronnie McNutt was a member of the Celebration Church in Tupelo and also enjoyed or was involved in performing theater plays. He was an Iraq War veteran who served in the United States Army Reserve and was employed as a worker at a Toyota plant in Blue Springs, New Albany.[14][10]Ronnie was also a member of the Comicons club and wrote some comic book reviews on websites. According to his close friend, Joshua Steen, he was later diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder shortly after his military service.[10]

During the early 2000s, Ronnie McNutt met Joshua Steen at a community theatre production of Footloose, located in the city of Mississippi, while they were in high school.[1] Ronnie McNutt joined JustUs Geeks, a podcast by Josh Steen, with the intention of connecting "with the millions of geeks and pop culture nerds all across the globe." He started writing some reviews for the official website in 2014. During the live stream, Steen tried calling Ronnie with two phone numbers that he could easily recognize, only for Ronnie to decline the call on the stream.[15] Some media said that the gun that he used to shoot himself with was a shotgun, but Steen stated to the media that it was a single-shot rifle.[4]

On October 11, 2020, a 1-hour podcast titled "Ronnie McNutt Revisited: An Interview with Josh Steen" was uploaded to YouTube on The Misery Machine's channel, which features Joshua Steen explaining details about Ronnie McNutt.[16]

Ronnie was predeceased by his father, and they were buried in the same cemetery.[4]

Memorial

"Ronald "Ronnie" Merle McNutt May 23, 1987 – August 31, 2020 New Albany, Mississippi, USA

Ronald “Ronnie” Merle McNutt, 33, passed away Monday, August 31, 2020 at his home in New Albany, MS. He was born on May 23, 1987, to Mr. Cecil Ronald McNutt and Elaine McNutt. Mr. McNutt is a member of the Celebration Church in Tupelo, MS. He enjoyed and performed theater plays. He was a member of the Comicons club. He was employed at the Toyota plant in Blue Springs, MS. Mr. McNutt is a Veteran of the United States Army Reserve where he served in the Iraq War.

A Celebration of Life Service will be at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, September 2, 2020 at McMillan Funeral Home with Pastor Rob Sevilla officiating. Burial will follow at the Snowdown Church of Christ Cemetery.

He is survived by his mother, Elaine McNutt; one brother, Joey McNutt (Susan); one sister, Mindy McNutt; three special nieces, Allie McNutt, Paisley McNutt, and Hope Newcomb (Daniel); two special nephews, Drew Ham and Chance Pounds; a special great-niece, Ella Newcomb; a special great-nephew, Rayker Newcomb; and a host of other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Cecil Ronald McNutt; and four grandparents, Raz and Elois Rooker, and Jeff and Helen McNutt.

Pallbearers will be Jamey Nunley, Benjamin Neff, Nathan Belue, Chris Prestage, Evan Crabb, and John Barnes."[17]

Videos

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Dickson, E. (2020, September 9). "Why Did Facebook Keep a Man's Livestreamed Suicide Up for Hours?". Rolling Stone.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Wakefield, J. (2020, September 20). "Friend Challenges Facebook Over Ronnie McNutt Suicide Video". BBC News.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Steinbuch, Y. (2020, September 9). "Ronnie McNutt Shared Heartbreaking Message Before Suicide". New York Post.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Kitching, C. (2020, September 11). "Tragic Story Of Ronnie McNutt Who Killed Himself On Facebook Live Stream". Mirror.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Kitching, C. (2020, September 9). "Man Who Live-streamed His Own Suicide Left Tragic Last Post On Facebook". Mirror.co.uk.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 McEvoy, J. (2020, September 9). "Friend Of Ronnie McNutt, Whose Livestreamed Suicide Went Viral, Says Facebook Could’ve Stopped It". Forbes.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Warnock, C. (2020, September 8). "Ronnie McNutt’s Friend Speaks Out About Facebook Suicide Video". Heavy.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Coldewey, D. (2020, September 14). "Graphic Video Of Suicide Spreads From Facebook To TikTok To YouTube As Platforms Fail Moderation Test". TechCrunch.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Gramenz, J. (2020, September 10). "Why TikTok Suicide Video Horror Will Happen Again". News.com.au.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Steinbuch, Y. (2020, September 8). "Army Veteran Ronnie McNutt Commits Suicide In Facebook Livestream". New York Post.
  11. ↑ Warnock, C. (2020, September 7). "Ronnie McNutt: Man Dies By Suicide On Facebook Live Stream. Heavy.com.
  12. ↑ https://www.wdam.com/2020/09/09/criticism-lobbed-social-media-companies-after-suicide-video-mississippi-man-goes-viral/
  13. ↑ #ReformForRonnie Hashtag
  14. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/215119078/ronald-merle-mcnutt
  15. ↑ Steinbuch, Y. (2020, September 8). "Ronnie McNutt's Friend: Facebook Could've Stopped Suicide Livestream". New York Post.
  16. ↑ "Ronnie McNutt Revisited: An Interview with Josh Steen" October 12, 2020 - via YouTube.
  17. ↑ https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/booneville-ms/ronald-mcnutt-9342885

See Also

  • Flappy Bird - A popular Scratch copy of the mobile app with the same name, but it was hacked to display the same video when the player loses.

Links

NOTE: The following video contains extremely graphic content!

  • web.archive.org/web/20210824071325/files.catbox.moe/310ldj.mp4
  • livegore.com/102911/ronnie-mcnutt-full-suicide-video?show=102911#q102911
  • Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_of_Ronnie_McNutt


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