Influencer Dominique Brown Dies After Medical Emergency At BoxLunch Event

An influencer has died after experiencing a medical emergency during an industry event. Dominique Brown, co-creator of the Black Girl Disney platform, passed away from a fatal allergic reaction at a BoxLunch event last Thursday (Dec. 5) at Vibiana in Los Angeles. She was 34 years old.

An invite to the social event received by VIBE described the affair as “a massive, snow-filled wonderland,” dedicated to celebrating not only the winter Holidays but also five years of the BoxLunch Collective, an influencer group of which Brown was a member.

According to PEOPLE Magazine, Brown reportedly consumed an unnamed item after an event staffer assured her that it did not contain an ingredient she was allergic to. A PEOPLE reporter at the event claims to have witnessed Brown receiving CPR and confirmed that 911 was called to the scene.

“We are devastated by the passing of Dominique Brown, a beloved member of the BoxLunch Collective, who suffered a medical emergency at an event hosted by BoxLunch on Thursday in Los Angeles,” a BoxLunch representative detailed to PEOPLE in a statement over the weekend. “Our hearts go out to her family and friends, and we will do everything we can to support them and the members of the BoxLunch Collective and our team during this painful time.”

Following her death, an immediate outpouring of love-filled social media feeds, recognizing Brown as a “true bright light” According to US Weekly, BoxLunch is offering grief counseling for both staffers and the BoxLunch Collective as well as conducting an independent investigation into the tragic incident.

“I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to her social media fam for showing her so much love and light,” wrote Brown’s brother in the comments of her final Instagram post. “Disney did bring her joy, but it was unparalleled that she found a community who loved her and Disney as much as she did. I will miss my sister and best friend and that infectious smile she always had. Thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart.”

Following Brown’s death, a petition was launched on Change.org to mandate life-saving food allergy measures at all food establishments. The petition to the California State House asserts that despite informing staff of her life-threatening allergy, she was served a dish containing the allergen and that the establishment lacked critical life-saving tools and trained staff to respond effectively.

The petition calls for mandatory epinephrine autoinjectors at all establishments that serve food, including restaurants and event venues, staff training on recognizing and treating allergic reactions, and real-time ingredient transparency, including clear communication protocols between chefs, servers, and patrons.

As of Monday morning (Dec 9), the digital campaign has received more than 15,000 signatures, surpassing the halfway point of its 25,000 goal.

VIBE sends our condolences to Dominique Brown’s family, friends, and followers.