Dominique Brown, a 34-year-old Disney influencer and co-founder of Black Girl Disney, passed away on December 5, 2024, following a severe allergic reaction at a BoxLunch holiday food event in Los Angeles, California.
Known on the internet as HellooDomo, Brown had declared her deadly peanut allergy to event staff. Despite reassurances of safe food, she had an immediate allergic reaction upon eating. Witnesses said Brown called for immediate medical help, but help was delayed as some event-goers prioritized taking pictures over offering assistance. Despite receiving CPR and emergency medical response, Brown could not be saved.
The unexpected death has resulted in widespread anger on social media, with users condemning what they perceive as gross negligence by event organizers. One user wrote, “This is horrific and devastating. A Black woman influencer, Dominique Brown, goes to an influencer event hosted by BoxLunch and dies from a food allergy even though she notified staff of her allergens. How could this happen?!!” Another attendee criticized the company’s response, saying, “These are THE most insensitive brand emails I’ve ever received, and going forward I WILL NOT be working with BoxLunch anymore.” Fans and fellow influencers have been rallying around Brown’s legacy, demanding justice and advocating for stricter safety measures at public events, including mandatory ingredient listing and allergy training for staff.
BoxLunch, a retail merchandiser specializing in pop culture merchandise, stated they had notified the venue about guest food allergies prior to the event. They expressed their distress over Brown’s death and announced grief counseling services for staff and members of the BoxLunch Collective, to which Brown belonged. An independent investigation into the incident is in progress.
Matthew Desmond, another Disney influencer, reported that “the food was allegedly not properly marked with its ingredients,” emphasizing concerns over the event’s safety procedures.
Brown joined forces with influencer Mia Von in 2018 to start Black Girl Disney, aiming to foster a more inclusive environment for women of color who are Disney fans. Her contributions played a significant role in diversifying the Disney influencer community and ensuring representation for underrepresented groups.
Patrick Ramos, Brown’s brother, expressed his gratitude for the support from Brown’s online community. He said that Disney brought her immense joy and that she found a community that shared her enthusiasm.
This unfortunate incident is the second reported death due to an allergic reaction at a Disney-related event, following the 2023 death of Dr. Kanokporn Tangsuan at a Disney Springs restaurant.
