An Italian TikToker who came out as trans and then non-binary has taken their own life after internet bullies allegedly targeted them for changing their gender identity.
Davide Garufi, 21, came out as a trans woman and asked their followers to call them Alexandra.
After a few months, the content creator reportedly said they had decided to go back to using their birth name, telling fans that they instead identified as non-binary and would use male pronouns again.
The announcement sparked conversation about gender identity among their followers, but also saw a number of abusive and transphobic comments directed towards Garufi.
Tragically, on March 19, Garufi shot themself dead at the home they shared with their family near Milan.
A probe has been launched into their death, with police looking into possible third-party involvement.
Garufi, who began posting on TikTok in 2020 and had built up a following of more than 278,000, posted comedy sketches as well as more personal content about their gender identity using various different handles.
Tributes have poured in for the creator, including from the Sinistra Italiana (Italian Left) political party.
In a statement it expressed ‘pain and anger for the death of Alex/Davide Garufi’ believing they were “a victim of transphobic bullying”.
The party added that his death is “the result of traditional culture that finds support in anti-choice movements and the intolerant right”.
