Boyfriend of Brazilian influencer dies after consuming the same contaminated drink that killed her

12 December 2025

Yasmim Angela Feitosa de Souza. Yasmim Angela Feitosa de Souza/Instagram

In a tragic echo of an earlier loss, 22-year-old Fridman Gustavo Amorim Brito has died from methanol poisoning in Brazil less than a month after his influencer girlfriend, Yasmim Ângela Feitosa de Souza, also succumbed to the same toxic substance.

Brito’s death on December 10, 2025 brings a heartbreaking close to an ordeal that began on November 10, when both young people and a friend consumed adulterated whiskey at a birthday celebration in Petrolina, a city in the northeastern state of Pernambuco. Health officials confirmed that methanol was present in the beverage and later found in Brito’s bloodstream, underscoring the dangers of illicit or contaminated alcohol.

The horrific chain of events began during de Souza’s birthday celebration, when the trio drank from a bottle of whiskey that had apparently been laced with methanol. Methanol is a toxic form of alcohol that can be indistinguishable from ethanol, the type of alcohol people drink, but it can cause severe poisoning, leading to symptoms that include nausea, vision problems, organ failure and death.

Within two days of the party de Souza collapsed and died before she could receive medical attention. Brito and the third friend were rushed to a hospital, where they were given fomepizole, an antidote that can block methanol’s harmful effects and buy critical time for treatment. The third friend survived and was discharged after treatment.

Brito was transferred between hospitals as doctors fought to stabilize him, but after a 29-day battle he too passed away from the effects of the poisoning. His death has devastated family members, friends and followers who had watched the couple together on social media in the days leading up to the tragedy.

On November 2, just over a week before the fatal birthday celebration, de Souza and Brito had shared a joint post on Instagram that included a tender message expressing affection and closeness, captioned in Portuguese with a thought about their shared connection. That post has resurfaced and circulated in the aftermath of the double tragedy, prompting reflection and sorrow from their community.

Feitosa de Souza, who was known online as an influencer with more than 23,000 followers, carved out a niche on social media with lifestyle content that often featured Brito. Their presence together cultivated a devoted following and for many fans the horrific fate that befell them feels almost unimaginable. The events have reignited concern in Brazil about the prevalence of counterfeit or contaminated alcohol, particularly in areas where regulation and enforcement may be inconsistent, and the risks people face when consuming unregulated beverages.

Local health authorities have underscored that methanol poisoning can occur when beverages are produced or tampered with improperly. Methanol itself is poisonous and not intended for human consumption; even small amounts can cause toxic effects. Consumption of methanol can lead to metabolic acidosis, visual disturbances including blindness, and central nervous system depression. Outbreaks of methanol poisoning have occurred in various countries in recent years as illicit or homemade alcoholic beverages circulate without quality control.

The public response to Brito’s death has been one of shock and grief. Friends and family have shared memories of both him and de Souza, lamenting the loss of two young lives cut short under tragic circumstances. In interviews with local media, de Souza’s mother recounted how her daughter had spent the day of her birthday happily with loved ones before falling ill that night. The memory of that joyful day stands in stark contrast with the suffering that followed after the contaminated drink was consumed.

For many observers, the incident also highlights broader issues around alcohol safety and the need for greater public awareness. Methanol poisoning is preventable when consumers are aware of the risks of unregulated alcohol and when supply chains ensure that beverages are manufactured and distributed safely. Counterfeit alcohol can be difficult to identify on sight, and in some cases methanol is added intentionally to increase the potency of cheap liquor, a practice that endangers countless people.

In the wake of these deaths, authorities in Pernambuco and at the national level are expected to continue investigating the source of the contaminated whiskey, including tracing its origin and distribution path. Efforts to seize and analyze remaining bottles and identify any networks involved in its production or sale are part of a larger push to prevent similar tragedies.

The loss of Fridman Gustavo Amorim Brito and Yasmim Ângela Feitosa de Souza has touched many across Brazil and beyond, particularly in the influencer community where their story reached wide audiences. The couple’s social media, filled with shared experiences and expressions of affection, now serves as a poignant reminder of both young love and the fragility of life in the face of unseen hazards. Their deaths have prompted an outpouring of sympathy, with messages recognizing their connection and the heartbreak of the needless circumstances that claimed their lives.

As investigations continue and families mourn, this tragic event stands as a stark warning about the dangers of contaminated alcohol and the importance of vigilance when it comes to consumption of spirits that fall outside regulated channels.