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Lamarr Wilson
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Lamarr Wilson | |
|---|---|
 Wilson during an appearance on the Techsploder podcast, June 2024. | |
| Born | October 22, 1977 |
| Died | November 21, 2025 (aged 48) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupations | |
| Awards | Webby Award (2014) |
| YouTube information | |
| Channel | |
| Years active | 2008–2025[1] |
| Genres | |
| Subscribers | 2.21 million[‡ 1] |
| Views | 310 million[‡ 1] |
| Last updated: December 22, 2025 | |
| Website | lamarrwilson |
Lamarr Wilson (/ləˈmɑːr ˈwɪlsən/ luh-MAR-WIL-sən;[2] October 22, 1977 – November 21, 2025) was an American YouTuber and technology reporter. He was known for comedic unboxing videos, product reviews, and stress-testing of consumer electronics. His background as a technology coordinator for Chicago Public Schools influenced his presentation style—Inc. magazine observed that he used non-technical language to reach general audiences rather than enthusiasts.
Starting his online career in 2008, Wilson created the YouTube channel "WilsonTech1", which he later rebranded under his own name. On the channel, he posted reviews and demonstrations of electronics, gaming hardware and household products. Originally a vlogger, he changed his content genre to comedic product stress-testing; as of December 2025, this format attracted a combined audience of 3.5 million followers across social media platforms.[a] He co-hosted the web series Takei's Take with actor George Takei, which won a Webby Award in 2014, and contributed to the podcast Daily Tech News Show for ten years. He frequently appeared as a host or guest at industry events and collaborated with companies including Microsoft and Apple.
Alongside his product reviews, Wilson addressed equity in media; during the 2020 George Floyd protests, he issued video statements calling for greater racial equity for Black creators. During the 2020s, Wilson started using vertical video formats on TikTok and Instagram. Wilson died by suicide at his home in Los Angeles in November 2025; his family withheld the announcement until the following month. His death drew statements from figures in the gaming and technology industries, while commentators in outlets such as The Root analyzed the suicide within the contexts of mental health of African Americans.
Life and career
[edit]1977–2012: Early life and career beginnings
[edit]Lamarr Wilson was born on October 22, 1977, in Chicago, Illinois.[5][3] Wilson graduated from high school in 1995 and attributed his interest in consumer electronics to a senior-year work-study position at Best Buy.[‡ 2] He was subsequently employed as a K–8 technology coordinator for public schools in Milwaukee and the Chicago Public Schools system;[4] a 2011 evaluation report identified him as a Technology Co-Coordinator for the Chicago district's Striving Readers Initiative.[6] During this period, he also served as president of the consulting firm Wilson EduTech, Inc.,[7] which Wilson stated he founded to assist teachers with incorporating technology into their classrooms,[‡ 3] and as an organizer for Chess in Chicago.[8] Wilson's background as a former educator and technology consultant influenced his later work in digital media; as HuffPost later noted, his experience working with families and educators helped him explain technology in ways that were accessible to general audiences.[9]
Following a workshop on social media video production,[‡ 3] Wilson created his YouTube channel in 2008 under the username "WilsonTech1," with the channel displayed under his name, Lamarr Wilson.[1][10] He branded himself as "That Unboxing Guy," filming himself unboxing and testing products ranging from iPhones and video game consoles.[3] YouTube selected Wilson in May 2012 as one of 16 creators for its "Next Vlogger" educational program, designed to support early-career creators moving into professional digital production. The program provided Wilson with $15,000 in funding and mentorship from experienced content creators, including iJustine.[11][10] Later that year, Wilson moved to Los Angeles to pursue media full-time;[‡ 3] he remained based there until his death.[4]
2013–2014: Hosting and Takei's Take
[edit]
Fullscreen and Portal A cast Wilson in 2013 to co-host Takei's Take, a web series led by Star Trek actor George Takei. Sponsored by the AARP, the show focused on teaching older adults about new technology.[12] In the first episode, Wilson appeared as a "tech reporter" to demonstrate Google Glass;[13] Tubefilter credited Wilson with setting the show's comedic tone.[12] The series won a Webby Award in 2014 in the "Online Film & Video: Technology" category.[5]
During this period, The Daily Dot described him as "the world's funniest tech reporter," in a 2013 report on YouTube's proposed paid subscription model, citing his analysis of how the changes could affect content creators on the platform.[14] He later joined the TWiT.tv network, managed by Leo Laporte. He hosted a show called This Week in YouTube, where he analyzed viral videos and channel news.[15] By 2014, he began working with the media company Mashable as the host of two video series: YouTube Weekly and Socially Awkward.[16][17] Wilson also served as a contributor on the podcast Daily Tech News Show, contributing to the program for ten years.[‡ 4][5]
2015–2019: Unboxing and channel growth
[edit]
Wilson began reviewing limited-edition Nintendo products in late 2014. Inc. credited his coverage of the Nintendo Amiibo toys-to-life figures in 2014 as his "a-ha moment" for channel growth, noting that his "organic excitement" of "ripping them out like a 6-year-old kid" resonated with audiences.[18]
By 2016, Wilson maintained a production schedule of five videos per week and had reached one million subscribers; Inc. reported that his audience demographics were primarily men aged 25 to 34.[18] His most popular video of that era, "Fat Guy Falls Off Hoverboard!", accumulated 2.5 million views.[18] His reviews frequently attracted media attention for their methods; Atlas Obscura noted his review of the "Mighty Mug," where Wilson used a baseball bat to test the product's suction claims.[19]
Media outlets used Wilson's content to assess the market reception of international commercial products. Mint Lounge highlighted his positive review of the Ice Orb levitating speaker as an example of Indian technological innovation entering the American consumer market.[20] CNN and Romper reported on his taste tests of limited-run Oreo flavors to confirm product details—such as specific taste profiles and retail availability—prior to their wide release.[21][22] YouTube subsequently hired Wilson in 2018 to appear in a video announcing the new design for its YouTube Creator Awards plaques.[23]
2020–2025: Later career and short-form media
[edit]
Amid the George Floyd protests in June 2020, Wilson used his platform to address racial inequity within the media and technology industries. In a video published that month, he stated, "No one's asking for black people to be treated above you, just a level playing field," according to KTLA.[24] Following the protests, the website TechRadar listed Wilson as a creator to follow to support black voices in technology.[25] In the later half of the year, he served as a host for industry events. He worked as the pre-show host for the Xbox Games Showcase in July 2020[26] and appeared as a guest for the Summer Game Fest with Geoff Keighley.[27]
In 2021, following the COVID-19 pandemic, Wilson changed his video format to prioritize short-form vertical video on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.[4] During March, Dwayne Johnson and ZOA Energy partnered with Microsoft to distribute custom Xbox Series X mini-fridges to influencers; Wilson received one of the units, which included ZOA drinks and sunglasses.[28] Game Informer cited Wilson's coverage of the "mini-fridge" as a notable example of the market's move toward meme-based marketing.[29]
Following the popularity of the ZOA item, Microsoft released a smaller retail version of the fridge in October 2022; Wilson reviewed this model upon its release, pointing out its noise reduction features compared to previous iterations.[30] In October 2023, Apple Inc. enlisted Wilson for its "Scary Fast" marketing campaign, providing him with pre-release hardware to publicize the M3 Mac launch.[31] By 2025, New York Daily News reported that Wilson had 2.21 million subscribers on YouTube and a combined following of 3.5 million across all his social media accounts.[32][a]
The Hollywood Reporter named Wilson one of "11 Influencers You Need to Know" in June 2025 ahead of his appearance at VidCon.[1] He appeared at the event as a featured creator, one of 200 Identified by Mashable.[33] In late 2025, the Consumer Technology Association selected Wilson to serve as a judge for the 2026 CES Innovation Awards, scheduled to take place in Las Vegas in January.[4]
Style and reception
[edit]Critics categorized Wilson as a "lifestyle" technology reporter rather than a technical commentator. In a 2016 feature, Marli Guzzetta of Inc. wrote that while creators like Marques Brownlee focused on detailed specifications, Wilson used "organic excitement" to appeal to casual consumers, creating a dynamic where viewers felt they were "hanging out with him after a trip to the store".[18] India Weekly observed online that Wilson was "'widely recognized known as 'That Unboxing Guy'" and also described his reviews as "comedic, accessible."[16] In a 2025 study on voice interfaces, media scholar Markus Spöhrer cited Wilson's Amazon Echo content as an example of influencers popularizing "conversational style game mechanics" on smart devices.[34] The Hollywood Reporter similarly described him as an "original" voice in a saturated market, noting that his "playful sense of humor" and "unvarnished opinions" allowed him to maintain a balance where tech coverage was "serious—but can also be fun."[1]
The camera is the biggest bullshit detector.
In an interview with New Media Rockstars, he explained that he primarily filmed videos in his Los Angeles apartment to give his content a "personal, 'this is his home' feel" that audiences would respond to.[‡ 5] Regarding the unboxing genre, he stated in an August 2016 interview with Cult of Mac that many viewers watched his content to "live vicariously" through his experiences; he noted that he deliberately incorporated "mystery" elements into his videos to increase viewer engagement.[35] He described his persona in another interview as an "ex-Apple hater" and suggested that some hostility toward the company came from "a morbid fear of things that are easy to use."[36]
Death
[edit]Wilson documented his personal health in late 2025. On October 22, he posted a photo on Instagram update detailing a 48 lb (22 kg) weight loss following a "health scare." He wrote that he shed the weight "naturally" through discipline and felt "genuinely at peace." In the post, Wilson also advised removing people "determined to disrupt [his life] with their inner chaos" and he concluded the caption with his final message to his audience: "I'll see you in the video!"[5][4]
Shortly after, Wilson attended an event for creators hosted by Forbes Creator Upfronts in Los Angeles.[3][4] Concern began to circulate in mid-November when his audience noticed that Wilson, whose final video reviewing Belkin charging stations was uploaded on November 12, 2025,[16][32] had stopped his usual schedule of multiple weekly updates.[32][3]
On November 21, 2025, Wilson was found dead at his home in Los Angeles.[5] The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner ruled that his death was a suicide caused by asphyxia and suffocation.[37][32] On December 13, 2025, his family posted a statement on Facebook confirming his death. They wrote that they were "heartbroken" and said Wilson had "so many projects in the making" when he died.[32] Tony Wilson, his uncle, added that the family and Wilson's creative team were coping with the loss and thanked fans for their support.[4] The family also thanked his management teams and specifically acknowledged the fans he "mentored, helped or inspired."[16]
Reaction and analysis
[edit]Wilson's death drew tributes from the technology and gaming communities. Xbox executive Aaron Greenberg published a statement describing Wilson as an "incredible human" with a "rare talent to take any product or idea and explain it in a way everyone could understand."[38] Greenberg noted that he and Wilson had been friends for many years and pledged a donation to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in Wilson's honor.[38] Geoff Keighley, the creator of The Game Awards, released a statement describing Wilson as a "cornerstone of the LA gaming and tech creator community," noting that Wilson had been one of the first creators to offer assistance during the launch of Summer Game Fest.[38]
Writing for The Root, Lawrence Ware placed Wilson's death in the context of a "mental health crisis" affecting Black men in 2025, listing Wilson alongside other figures—such as DJ Commando and Kyren Lacey—who died by suicide that year.[39] Following his death, the Consumer Technology Association issued a statement citing his "thoughtful perspective and passion for innovation".[‡ 6]
Selected videography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–2014 | Takei's Take | Co-host | Series for AARP; winner of Webby Award (2014) | [12] |
| 2013 | This Week in YouTube | Host | Series for TWiT.tv | [15] |
| 2014–2016 | YouTube Weekly | Host/Producer | Series for Mashable | [32] |
| 2014 | Socially Awkward | Host | Series for Mashable | [5] |
| 2016 | "Ice Orb Floating Bluetooth Speaker" | Self | Review; cited by international media as an example of Western market trends. | [20] |
| 2018 | "YouTube Silver and Gold Creator Awards: A New Look" | Self | Official YouTube announcement video | [23] |
| 2020 | Summer Game Fest | Guest | "PlayStation Memories" panel | [27] |
| 2020 | Xbox Games Showcase | Pre-show host | Official Microsoft event | [26] |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Organization | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Webby Awards | Online Film & Video: Technology | Takei's Take (with George Takei) | Won | [5] |
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]Primary sources
In the text, these references are preceded by a double dagger (‡):
- ^ a b "Lamarr Wilson's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on December 22, 2025. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
- ^ Wilson, Lamarr; Howell, Jason (June 28, 2024). Lamarr Wilson // Techsploder Podcast #9 (Video). YouTube. Event occurs at 06:00. Archived from the original on December 27, 2025. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ^ a b c Carrasco, Ed (January 8, 2013). "Lamarr Wilson YouTube Tech Reporter". New Media Rockstars. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
- ^ "ABOUT US – Daily Tech News Show". Daily Tech News Show. January 15, 2014. Archived from the original on May 2, 2025. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
Lamarr Wilson – Lamarr was a host and showcaser of "cool stuff" on his self-named YouTube channel
- ^ Carrasco, Ed (January 8, 2013). Lamarr Wilson Interview NMR (Interview). New Rockstars. Event occurs at 1:18. Archived from the original on February 27, 2013. Retrieved December 22, 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Meet the Judges of the CES Innovation Awards® 2026 Program!". CES Innovation Awards. Consumer Technology Association. Archived from the original on December 20, 2025. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
Secondary sources
[edit]- ^ a b c d Zeitchik, Steven; Weprin, Alex (June 18, 2025). "The View From VidCon: 11 Influencers You Need to Know". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation. ISSN 0018-3660. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ Entertainment Tonight (December 22, 2025). Lamarr Wilson, Tech Influencer, Dead at 48. CBS Media Ventures. Archived from the original on December 22, 2025. Retrieved December 22, 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c d e Hajdu, Gabor (December 24, 2025). "Elhunyt Lamarr Wilson, a YouTube ikonikus unboxing arca" [Lamarr Wilson, the iconic face of YouTube unboxing, has passed away]. PCWPlus (in Hungarian). Project029 Magyarország Szolgáltató Kft. ISSN 1785-4717. Archived from the original on December 29, 2025. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Mora, D. (December 23, 2025). "Conmoción por la muerte del 'influencer' de tecnología Lamarr Wilson a los 48 años" [Shock over the death of technology 'influencer' Lamarr Wilson at 48]. 20 Minutos (in Spanish). ISSN 1887-8342. Archived from the original on December 29, 2025. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Lyttle, Zoey (December 19, 2025). "Award-Winning Tech Influencer Lamarr Wilson's Cause of Death at 48 Revealed". People. Dotdash Meredith. ISSN 0093-7673. Archived from the original on December 20, 2025. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
- ^ Simon, Alan J.; Tunik, Jonathan (March 2011). Chicago Public Schools Striving Readers Initiative: Year Four Evaluation Report (PDF) (Technical report). Chicago Public Schools. ED600938. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 11, 2025. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ^ Wyld, David C. The Blogging Revolution: Government in the Age of Web 2.0 (PDF) (Technical report). IBM Center for The Business of Government. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 7, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ^ "The Illinois Chess Bulletin" (PDF). The Illinois Chess Bulletin. 27 (2). Illinois Chess Association. March 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 7, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ^ Knorr, Caroline (February 11, 2016). "What Kids Are Really Watching on YouTube". HuffPost. Common Sense Media. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
- ^ a b Cohen, Joshua (May 9, 2012). "YouTube's Next Goal: Catapulting 16 Vloggers to More than 125M Views". Tubefilter. Archived from the original on March 7, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2026.
- ^ Lawler, Ryan (May 8, 2012). "With 125M Views, These Vloggers Are Already Good. But YouTube Wants To Make Them Better". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on February 23, 2025. Retrieved January 4, 2026.
- ^ a b c Gutelle, Sam (September 17, 2013). "George Takei Expands Social Media Savvy To AARP-Branded Web Series". Tubefilter. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
- ^ Hurwitz, Daniel (September 17, 2013). "TV on the Web: 'Takei's Take' on tech hits YouTube". USA Today. Gannett. Archived from the original on May 18, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
- ^ "Would you pay for YouTube subscriptions?". The Daily Dot. February 13, 2013. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
- ^ a b Roettgers, Janko (March 18, 2013). "Leo Laporte's TWiT takes on YouTube hits with new show". Yahoo! Finance. GigaOm. Archived from the original on November 19, 2013. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Kallukaran, Gayathri (December 20, 2025). "Tech influencer Lamarr Wilson dies at 48, shocking millions of followers". India Weekly. Archived from the original on January 14, 2026. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ^ Valdes, Armand (April 18, 2014). "Lamarr Wilson on the Most WTF Story of the Week". Mashable. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Guzzetta, Marli (December 1, 2016). "Unboxing: How a Bunch of Low-Budget YouTube Videos Became Must-See TV". Inc. ISSN 0162-8968. Archived from the original on March 17, 2025. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
- ^ Smith, Ernie (March 29, 2017). "The Strange Business of Suction Cups". Atlas Obscura. Archived from the original on January 17, 2025. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
- ^ a b Ramani, Priya (December 15, 2016). "What Amazon Launchpad says about Indian innovators". Mint Lounge. Archived from the original on December 3, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
- ^ Jackson, Amanda (January 20, 2016). "New flavor of Oreos hits the stores". CNN. Warner Bros. Discovery. Archived from the original on December 22, 2025. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ Hirsh, Sophie (September 24, 2018). "OMG Mickey Mouse Oreos Are Here & Our Childhood Dreams Have Finally Come True". Romper. Bustle Digital Group. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
- ^ a b Weiss, Geoff (March 30, 2018). "YouTube Has Given Its Silver and Gold Creator Awards a Slight Facelift". Tubefilter. Archived from the original on December 5, 2024. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
- ^ DeMuro, Rich (June 5, 2020). "Content creators stray from their typical topics to get real with their audiences about racism, activism". KTLA. Nexstar Media Group. Archived from the original on December 22, 2025. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
- ^ "Black Lives Matter: here's how you can help right now". TechRadar. Future plc. June 4, 2020. Archived from the original on March 26, 2025. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
- ^ a b Martinez, Phillip (July 22, 2020). "Xbox Games Showcase: Start Time, How to Watch and What to Expect". Newsweek. Newsweek Publishing. ISSN 0028-9604. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
- ^ a b Weiss, Geoff (June 10, 2020). "YouTube Pacts with Geoff Keighley for Exclusive 'Summer Game Fest' Programming". Tubefilter. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
- ^ "The Rock e Xbox enviam geladeiras do Series X para influencers" [The Rock and Xbox send Series X fridges to influencers]. The Enemy (in Portuguese). Omelete. March 18, 2021. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
- ^ Ruppert, Liana (March 17, 2021). "An Official Xbox Mini-Fridge Is Now A Thing As Microsoft Carries On The Series X Fridge Meme". Game Informer. GameStop. ISSN 1067-6392. Archived from the original on March 26, 2025. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
- ^ Gilbert, Fraser (October 14, 2022). "Here's A Closer Look At The New, Cheaper Xbox Mini Fridge". Pure Xbox. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
- ^ Martin, Alan (October 29, 2023). "Apple doubles down on spooky for its 'Scary Fast' M3 Mac event". Tom's Guide. Future plc. Archived from the original on October 5, 2025. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Kwarm, Vivian (December 19, 2025). "Tech influencer Lamarr Wilson dies by suicide at 48". New York Daily News. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on December 20, 2025. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
- ^ Silva, Christianna (June 16, 2025). "What to expect from VidCon 2025". Mashable. Archived from the original on June 17, 2025. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
- ^ Spöhrer, Markus (2025). "Voice Interfacing: Zum Ermöglichungspotenzial digitalen Spielens mit der Stimme für Menschen mit Behinderungen" [Voice Interfacing: On the Potential for Enabling Digital Voice Gaming for People with Disabilities]. In Borbach, Christoph (ed.). Akustische Interfaces [Acoustic Interfaces] (in German). Springer VS. p. 137. ISBN 978-3-658-47634-2. Archived from the original on January 15, 2026. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
- ^ a b Pierini, David (August 3, 2016). "YouTube feeds addiction for tech unboxing obsession". Cult of Mac. Archived from the original on December 24, 2025. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
- ^ Pierini, David (July 28, 2016). "Why do some folks hate Apple? It's complicated". Cult of Mac. Archived from the original on December 28, 2025. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
- ^ Kassahun, Tomas (December 20, 2025). "Lamarr Wilson Dies: Tech Influencer Was 48". Blavity. Archived from the original on December 22, 2025. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
- ^ a b c Gilbert, Fraser (December 23, 2025). "Xbox Exec Pays Respects To Beloved Influencer And 'Incredible Human', Lamarr Wilson". Pure Xbox. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on December 23, 2025. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
- ^ Ware, Lawrence (December 23, 2025). "Black Men Are Committing Suicide at an Alarming Rate, But This Is How To Help". The Root. Archived from the original on December 23, 2025. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
External links
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