Tributes pour in after fitness influencer and ‘looksmaxxer’ Connor Murphy’s death

Tributes and speculation swept social media this week after Connor Murphy, the bodybuilder and self-described “looksmaxxing” influencer known for his viral “Fake Shirt Trick” video, drowned in a lake in Thailand under circumstances authorities say remain unclear.

Mr. Murphy, 32, was renting a home in the Bang Phli District of Samut Prakan Province when he began behaving erratically in the hours before his death, according to Thai media reports cited by multiple outlets. He returned to the residential village in a hired vehicle and tried to give the driver 1,000 baht to continue driving him. He then approached another resident’s car asking for a ride but was refused and grew agitated, shouting and rolling on the pavement before raising his hands as if praying. Police were called, and Mr. Murphy fled into a nearby lake, where he swam until he was overcome and drowned. 

Divers with the Poh Teck Tung Foundation recovered his body roughly 20 meters from shore after about 30 minutes. An initial examination found no signs of assault, and his body was sent to Ramathibodi Chakri Naruebodindra Hospital for a post-mortem exam. Authorities have not announced a cause of death beyond the apparent drowning, and full autopsy and toxicology results remain pending. 

Investigators also reported finding two unused syringes and unidentified white pills in Mr. Murphy’s vehicle, and said the rented home — valued at roughly $600,000 — had been vandalized with paint splashed across furniture and appliances. Mr. Murphy’s girlfriend, identified only as Bee, told police she had never seen him use drugs and that his behavior that day was completely out of character.

Reactions from the fitness world

News of Mr. Murphy’s death prompted an outpouring from fellow content creators. Bodybuilder Tony Huge, who said he had recently filmed with Mr. Murphy in Thailand, posted an emotional video tribute describing his friend as someone who, in his final days, was grappling with questions about consciousness and the meaning of life. Mr. Huge said he believed Mr. Murphy had reached a level of awareness few people attain, adding that he takes comfort in believing his friend did not fear death.

Fitness influencer Alex Eubank also shared a public tribute reflecting on the mental health pressures Mr. Murphy had spoken about publicly in past years, according to IBTimes UK. Fans flooded Mr. Murphy’s old posts with condolences; one commenter recalled watching his early workout videos as a teenager and thanked him for the influence.

The death also drew commentary from more polarizing figures. Andrew Tate, reacting to reports linking Mr. Murphy’s final months to ayahuasca use in Peru, said he had spoken with Mr. Murphy and that it was clear he had been struggling with mental health issues. The remarks circulated widely online alongside broader debate over whether the “looksmaxxing” community’s embrace of extreme fitness and supplement regimens contributed to Mr. Murphy’s final days. Thai authorities have not addressed that speculation publicly; officials have said only that the investigation and toxicology testing remain ongoing.

Eerie final posts

Compounding the unease, Mr. Murphy’s final YouTube upload, posted six days before his death and titled “RIP Elon Muscular,” carried the caption “Obituary Pending” and was labeled a satirical performance not depicting real events. In the video, Mr. Murphy stares into the camera and remarks that people have an unhealthy relationship with death. A day later, he posted another video discussing a recent ayahuasca experience.

Separately, according to TMZ, which cited unnamed sources close to the project, Mr. Murphy had been in production on a documentary about looksmaxxing and biohacking reportedly intended for Hulu. The outlet reported that a source who spoke with Mr. Murphy in May said he seemed happy and showed no signs of concerning behavior at the time — though the same source, per TMZ, noted Mr. Murphy had never fully seemed the same since a reported mental health crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic. None of this has been officially confirmed by Hulu or Mr. Murphy’s representatives.

Mr. Murphy rose to fame in the mid-2010s with his “Fake Shirt Trick” video, which drew more than 60 million views and helped build a YouTube following of more than 2 million subscribers. He later shifted his content toward wellness, spirituality and the looksmaxxing community. The investigation into his death remains ongoing.