Video games are supposed to be for the young and competitive. Epic Gamer Grandma flipped that stereotype on its head with her passionate love of the hobby and her unironic content on TikTok and other platforms.
Videos by Wide Open Country
The viral content creator, whose real name was Agnes, died on Dec. 21 at 78. The news was announced today by her grandson, Culsans, on an emotional Instagram post.
"She left this world the way she loved it: surrounded by love," the message read.
What Happened to TikTok Star Epic Gamer Grandma?
Back in October, Culsans began sharing why his grandmother hadn't appeared in many new videos. Her Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) had "worsened significantly," causing her to be taken to the hospital.
Several days later, Culsans stated that Agnes "suffered a major stroke. She would have to undergo "heavy treatment" and testing to manage "an anomaly in her lungs."
It was in November that Culsans shared that Anges' condition had taken a turn for the worse.
"Her mind and speech remain seriously impaired," he wrote. "Most sentences are either entirely illegible or simply don't make sense. Her bones are in agony, and it's absolutely heartbreaking to witness. My mum and I had to take frequent breaks to have a place to both cry and digest everything and to be strong for grandma when she needed us most... She is practically as frail as anyone could be. and she does not look like the grandma i saw before."
Agnes Left Behind a Legacy and a Community
Anges had over three million followers across all social media platforms, with over two million on TikTok alone. She also had a tremendous impact on her fans.
"Grandma showed that the internet doesn't only belong to the young," wrote Culsans. "She showed that you can be in your seventies and still find new communities, new friendships, new ways to express yourself. She reminded people that our elders are not invisible. that they have stories, humour, opinions, and so much love left to give."
Fans shared their memories in the comments.
"We lost a good one this weekend," wrote one user. "Epic gamer grandma made my days better and gave me a good laugh when i thought i couldn't laugh at all. i hope your family is able to heal during these difficult times, especially during the holidays. for the family, take it easy and never lose each other or yourselves in the midst of the grief. to epic gamer grandma, rest in epic gamer paradise."
Another added, "Rest in peace, Grandma was one of the real ones, she will be missed."
