Elyria man, viral sensation in Twisted Tea video, dies unexpectedly

An Elyria man who became a viral sensation several years ago after he was caught on camera hitting a man with a can for yelling racial slurs has died. Bobby Oliver, who often went by the nickname "Barry Allen" due to his love of "The Flash" comics, died on Saturday. A GoFundMe page has been launched to raise money for Oliver's funeral expenses and to support his seven children. Lorain County Coroner Dr. Frank Miller confirmed that Oliver died in Lorain on Saturday and said that he was awaiting test results to determine the cause of death. Oliver, 35, was thrust into the national spotlight in 2020 after he confronted a white man in an Elyria Circle-K who was repeatedly shouting a slur used against Black Americans. Video of the event, which received millions of views and inspired thousands of memes, shows the two men arguing until Oliver drops the can of Twisted Tea alcohol he is holding, at which point the man kicks at the can. Oliver strikes the man with the can and the man then goes forward with his hands raised. Oliver throws the man to the ground and hits him again. No charges were ever filed relating to the incident. The video saw Oliver called "Mr. TeaKO" and "The Twisted Tea Guy" across the internet, as he was praised for standing up to racial abuse. Oliver was interviewed by The New York Post about the incident. But, his family says, that video does not capture the loving and thoughtful man that Oliver was. "Bobby's children were his life, making sure their needs were met before his own," his obituary from the Liston Funeral Home said. "He loved 'The Flash,' and listening to music while he took late night walks to find his peace." Oliver was preceded in death by his infant son Bobby Oliver Jr., who died last year. He leaves behind seven children and nine siblings. Oliver will be buried in the Brookdale Cemetery in Elyria alongside his mother, Bobbie, and his son Bobby Jr. The GoFundMe to support Oliver's family can be found at www.gofundme.com/f/bobby-oliver-aka-barry-allen-funeral-expenses. As of 6:30 p.m. on Thursday the page had raised $2,187 of its $13,000 goal.