Raines created a successful YouTube channel dedicated to her advocacy efforts rescuing foxes from fur farms.

Animal rescue activist and YouTube star Mikayla Raines has died by suicide, according to her husband. She was 29.

Ethan Raines announced her death in an emotional video he posted to her YouTube channel on Monday.

He said that for years his wife suffered from various mental health issues and struggled to cope with online criticism.

"She couldn’t bear what she was feeling any longer, and she ended her life," he said. "And it breaks my heart that someone who is selfless and devoted her life to animals could have so much negativity pointed at her."

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[–] 52 points 1 year ago (16 children)

Tragic.

But listen, no one needs YouTube that bad. If you’re having issues because of it get off of it. It’s not real anyway. (YouTube, that is. People and foxes are, of course)

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  • [–] 55 points 1 year ago (6 children)

    That advice is basically, don't work in your chosen vocation. Running animal rehabilitation is not free, you need some sort of source of funding.

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  • [–] 29 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    If your job is causing you enough mental anguish to go through with suicide, it's reasonable to suggest you find another. That goes for any job.

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  • [–] 26 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

    it's reasonable to suggest you find another

    If it's "just a job" like working retail at Target, sure, that's a respectable take. It's still blaming the victim, but it's also advocating for the victim to address the issue themselves.

    But if it's not "just a job"? If it's your life's work, your calling, something you love more than anything else?

    That idea is very likely what drove her to the brink. You really have no fucking clue what you're talking about.

    I've been there and I almost didn't survive. Choosing to live isn't always so easy.

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  • [–] 24 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    If you are just working for money, yeah.

    People work for things that benefit everyone at a personal cost all the time, and advances are made because of people like that. It's a good thing, which had tragic consequences in this instance.

    We need to protect people who put the world before themselves. This isn't her failing, it's ours.

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  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    I'm in agreement with you, though I still think it's a fair suggestion for people putting the world before themselves to find another line of work too. I'm not saying that's the only reasonable suggestion. I'm all for trying to mitigate the risk of abuse and trauma in the first place. I took Optional's comment as an intended show of support to folks that might be struggling with similar abuse in their life.

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  • [–] 32 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 child)

    You think you're doing the right thing
    You think you're doing the right thing
    You think you're doing the right thing
    You think you're doing the right thing
    You think you're doing the right thing
    You think you're doing the right thing
    But they just won't listen.

    How can you blame someone for doing what should be universally understood as a positive and still having nonstop trolling? Quitting YouTube wasn't going to stop the harassment. Quitting YouTube wasn't going to make her unsee the harassment. Quitting YouTube wasn't going to promote advocacy for the animals. But you think it's her fault for putting herself in a place that is both a primary media location and collection point for a bunch of toxic people?

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago

    Quitting YouTube wasn't going to stop the harassment.

    Disagree.

    Quitting YouTube wasn't going to promote advocacy for the animals.

    Also disagree

    But you think it's her fault for putting herself in a place that is both a primary media location and collection point for a bunch of toxic people?

    You can change your circumstances. None of it is her fault. But if anyone is in that position they should understand that getting out is absolutely an option.

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  • [+] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (5 children)
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    No, just saying people younger than me never had a time when none of these horrible things existed. (Other things did, but not YouTube fame.)

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