TikTok Mourns Joshua Blackledge, Dead at 16: What We Know

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Joshua Blackledge, a popular 16-year-old TikTok star, has passed away, leaving the social media community in shock. Known for his high-energy, creative videos, Joshua died on March 18 at his home in Newport, North Carolina.

With over a million followers on TikTok, Joshua had become a fan favorite thanks to his vibrant personality and passion for cars, cooking, and gardening. His last post, shared on March 14, showed him having fun with friends next to a white truck.

The news was confirmed by his girlfriend, Emmie Gillikin, who posted a heartfelt message expressing her deep sadness and love for Joshua. As of now, the cause of his death has not been made public.

Fans and fellow TikTok creators have shared their grief and memories, remembering Joshua as a kind, passionate, and joyful young man. In her message, Emmie highlighted the love and kindness Joshua always showed her, a sentiment that’s been echoed by many online.

‘Gone Too Soon’

Joshua was a junior at West Carteret High School, where he took part in wrestling and track. His obituary reads that he loved spending time outdoors, especially near the water—whether he was fishing or out on a boat with friends. He also had a strong interest in cars and trucks. At home, Joshua enjoyed helping his mom with cooking, gardening, and taking care of the yard. He was full of energy and had a fun, lively personality. He was known for making people smile and often wowed others with his backflips.

Here is Emmie Gillikin’s full statement: “Missing this sweet boy right now. never would’ve thought i would have been here without you,» Gillikin wrote on TikTok. «Josh showed me what love really was even [though] im very young. he never failed to put a smile on my face no matter how mad i was at him … Even after these past couple days nothing seems real and im feeling all the emotions.”

Rustyn Gambardella, a close friend of Blackledge who frequently appeared in his videos, shared a statement on TikTok on Thursday. “Losing a person you view as a brother is one of the worst things I’ve been through. Josh always made me happy being around him and we had so many memories together. He will be greatly missed.”