Lamarr Wilson
Lamarr Wilson was an American YouTuber and technology reporter. He was known for unboxing videos and product reviews for 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 his YouTube channel, where he posted reviews and demonstrations of electronics, gaming hardware and household products. Originally a vlogger, he changed his content genre to unboxing and product testing by 2014; as of December 2025, this format attracted a combined audience of 3.5 million followers across social media platforms. He co-hosted the first episode of 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 featured creator or guest at industry events.
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 and Livemint analyzed his death within the context of a mental health crisis affecting African American men and the pressures of online content creation.
Life and career
1977–2012: Early life and career beginnings
Lamarr Wilson was born on October 22, 1977, in Chicago, Illinois. Wilson graduated from high school in 1995 and attributed his interest in consumer electronics to a senior-year work-study position at Best Buy. He was subsequently employed as a K–8 technology coordinator for public schools in Milwaukee and the Chicago Public Schools system; a 2011 evaluation report identified him as a Technology Co-Coordinator for the Chicago district's Striving Readers Initiative. During this period, he also served as president of the consulting firm Wilson EduTech, Inc., which Wilson stated he founded to assist teachers with incorporating technology into their classroom. HuffPost described Wilson as a "former educator and technology consultant" who used an "engaging personality to entertain families" through his videos.Following a workshop on social media video production, Wilson created his YouTube channel in 2008. He initially posted casual vlogs about his daily life and school technology, filming from a chair in his apartment, before later shifting his content toward unboxing videos and using the nickname "That Unboxing Guy".
YouTube selected Wilson in May 2012 as one of 16 creators for its "Next Vlogger" educational program, which provided him with $15,000 in funding and mentorship from experienced content creators such as iJustine. Later that year, Wilson moved to Los Angeles to pursue media full-time; he remained based there until his death.
2013–2019: Hosting, Takei’s Take, and unboxing growth
In 2013, the production companies Fullscreen and Portal A cast Wilson to co-host the first episode of 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. In the first episode, Wilson appeared as a "tech reporter" to demonstrate Google Glass. The episode won a People's Voice Webby Award in 2014 in the "Online Film & Video: Technology" category.During this period, he 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. By 2014, he began working with the media company Mashable as the host of two video series: YouTube Weekly and Socially Awkward. Wilson also served as a contributor on the podcast Daily Tech News Show, contributing to the program for ten years.
Wilson began reviewing limited-edition Nintendo products in late 2014, a shift cited by Inc. as the "a-ha moment" for channel growth, noting that his genuine excitement "ripping them out like a 6-year-old kid" resonated with audiences. By 2016, Wilson maintained a production schedule of five videos per week and had reached nearly one million subscribers; Inc. reported that his audience demographics were primarily men aged 25 to 34. His most popular video of that era, "Fat Guy Falls Off Hoverboard!", accumulated 2.5 million views.
2020–2025: Later career and short-form media
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. Following the protests, the website TechRadar listed Wilson as a creator to follow to support black voices in technology. Later that year, he appeared at industry events as a featured creator. He appeared on the Xbox Games Showcase pre-show on July 23, 2020 and appeared as a guest for the Summer Game Fest with Geoff Keighley. In 2021, Wilson changed his video format to prioritize short-form vertical video on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.The Hollywood Reporter named Wilson one of "11 Influencers You Need to Know" in June 2025 ahead of his appearance at VidCon, where he appeared as a featured creator. 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. By 2025, PCWPlus reported that Wilson had 2.21 million subscribers on YouTube and a combined following of 3.5 million across all his social media accounts.
Content, style, and reception
His content included unboxings of consumer electronics, video games, and snack foods, ranging from flagship smartphones to themed items like Loot Crates. Alongside tech, he filmed taste-test reviews for snack foods, including Oreo cookies and gummy worms. His reviews occasionally featured unconventional demonstrations, such as a video noted by Atlas Obscura in which he used a baseball bat to test a travel mug's suction. Through frequent collaborations with manufacturers including Nintendo, Microsoft, Apple Inc., and Google, Wilson often featured limited-edition promotional kits and influencer boxes in his videos. To preserve his audience's confidence, he disclosed these commercial affiliations, stating in 2016 that disclosure was necessary to maintain trust: "If I don't like something, I will say it."Wilson's style differed from that of technical reviewers; critics described him as a "lifestyle" technology reporter who prioritized entertainment and accessibility over detailed technical analyses. 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". To maintain viewer interest, Wilson deliberately withheld certain details during unboxings and incorporated elements of "mystery". He described his on-camera persona as an "ex-Apple hater" who had overcome "a morbid fear of things that are easy to use."
Framing his videos to appeal to viewers who "live vicariously" through unboxing content, Wilson noted that many commenters did not have the means to purchase the featured products. His presentation style was characterized by a "playful sense of humor" and "unvarnished opinions"; The Hollywood Reporter noted that this approach allowed him to function as an "original" voice in a saturated market who balanced serious content with fun. Following his death, Livemint described him as a "leading voice in the technology lifestyle space" who had formed a reputation as a "trusted online host" through accessible content, while Gayathri Kallukaran of India Weekly observed that Wilson was widely known as "That Unboxing Guy" and described his reviews as "comedic, accessible." Fans often referred to him as the "Tech Lifestyle Entertainer".
Death
Wilson documented his personal health in late 2025. On October 22, he posted a photo on Instagram update detailing a 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 with their inner chaos" and he concluded the caption with his final message to his audience: "I'll see you in the video!"Shortly after, Wilson attended an event for creators hosted by Forbes Creator Upfronts in Los Angeles. 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, had stopped his usual schedule of multiple weekly updates.
On November 21, 2025, Wilson was found dead at his home in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner ruled that his death was a suicide caused by asphyxia and suffocation. 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. Tony Wilson, his uncle, added that the family and Wilson's creative team were coping with the loss and thanked fans for their support. The family also thanked his management teams and specifically acknowledged the fans he "mentored, helped or inspired."