INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED AFTER 21-YEAR-OLD TIKTOKER DIES FOLLOWING ONLINE ABUSE

SESTO SAN GIOVANNI, ITALY • Police are investigating the death of 21-year-old Davide Garufi, a TikToker from Sesto San Giovanni, on suspicion of incitement to suicide. Garufi had openly shared his gender identity journey online, reportedly becoming a target of insults and transphobic bullying.

Sesto San Giovanni, Italy, March 23, 2025 – 11:05 PM – An investigation for incitement to suicide has been launched into the death of Davide Garufi, a 21-year-old from Sesto San Giovanni who had documented his gender identity journey on TikTok. The Carabinieri (Italian military police) have sent a report to the Monza Public Prosecutor's Office, which has opened an inquiry and is examining the possible involvement of third parties.

Since 2020, the young man had posted humorous content before sharing a very personal part of his life: initially, his new transgender identity as Alexandra, and later, his non-binary identity as Davide once more. It was reportedly from this point that comments containing insults began appearing under his posts, which are now under scrutiny by investigators.

"Victim of Transphobic Bullying"

The young man's death has garnered media attention, and the Italian Left (Sinistra Italiana) political party has issued a statement on the matter. In a press release, they expressed "grief and anger over the death of Alex/Davide Garufi," believing he was a "victim of transphobic bullying" and that his death is "a result of traditional culture that finds support in anti-choice movements and the intolerant right."

Sinistra Italiana "stands in solidarity with the pain of Davide (Alex)'s family, friends, and followers, who had the courage to come out as a transgender woman on TikTok, asking to be called Alexandra and proudly announcing the start of hormone therapy. From that moment, Alex (Davide) became a victim of violent episodes of bullying and transphobia, both online and in daily life."

Italian Left's Stance

Daniele Durante, Delegate for Rights for the Milan secretariat of Sinistra Italiana, stated: "I do not consider Alex (Davide)'s death a suicide, but a homicide for which there are responsible parties: our 'traditional' and selfish society, which does not understand the devastating impact of online bullying on those already on a complex path of self-determination, and the culture expressed by anti-choice movements like Pro Vita and Family Day, and the intolerant right that denies the existence of these individuals, humiliating them to the point of forcing them to seek death."

Sinistra Italiana Milan "is committed to fighting that inhuman anti-culture which, in our country, kills those who simply wish to be free to be themselves. The goal is to build a more just and inclusive society, actively collaborating with LGBTQIA+ associations and movements for strong