TL;DR
- LGBTQ+ TikTok star Ko Tin Zaw Htwe, 25, was found beaten to death in a Thai forest.
- His body showed signs of severe trauma and robbery; the crime appears premeditated.
- He left home after receiving a mysterious message asking for help.
- One person has reportedly been arrested, and the investigation continues.
- His death raises urgent concerns about violence against LGBTQ+ people in Southeast Asia.
TikTok Star Found Beaten to Death in Thai Forest
Community Shocked After Beloved LGBTQ+ Creator Is Killed**
A rising LGBTQ+ TikTok star with nearly a million followers has been found brutally beaten to death in a forest in western Thailand — a killing authorities believe was lured, planned and carried out with chilling precision.
Ko Tin Zaw Htwe, a 25-year-old creator from Myanmar known for his fashion clips, trend-hopping dances and warm, bubbly energy, was discovered on January 20 beneath a tree in Mae Sot, a district bordering Myanmar. What rescuers found was horrifying: his body facedown, his face bloodied beyond recognition, and his trousers pulled down as if to humiliate him in death. Nearby, investigators found a blood-stained wooden stick believed to be the weapon.
Local outlets reported that his facial injuries showed “severe trauma consistent with being struck by a hard object.” Authorities also discovered scattered items — a bag, cosmetics, a bank book, an empty alcohol bottle and a condom. Missing entirely were his jewellery and his mobile phone, fueling suspicion the attack may have included robbery, but wasn’t limited to it.
A Midnight Call and a Deadly Setup
Friends said he left his accommodation on January 18 after receiving a message from someone on social media asking for help. He walked out into the night and never returned.
Police now believe the killer — or killers — deliberately arranged to meet him in an isolated area, ambushing him in what appears sadly less like a random act and more like a targeted attack.
One suspect has reportedly been arrested, but authorities have not yet announced charges as the investigation continues.
His friends, shocked and heartbroken, took to social media:
“He was so pure,” one wrote.
“So kind-hearted,” said another.
For many, the loss feels unbearably senseless — a young queer creator whose joy, fashion, and vulnerability made him a beacon for LGBTQ+ youth across Myanmar and Thailand.
A Dangerous Reality for LGBTQ+ People in the Region
Ko Tin Zaw Htwe’s killing is more than a tragic crime — it is a harsh reminder of the risks faced by LGBTQ+ people across Southeast Asia, where queer individuals remain disproportionately targeted for violence, extortion, harassment and homophobic attacks.
Mae Sot is a border town where migrants, refugees, sex workers and LGBTQ+ youth often intersect with police corruption, trafficking networks and violent crime. For queer creators with online visibility, especially those living away from home or without strong legal protections, the danger can be amplified.
The brutality of this attack raises urgent questions:
Are queer influencers being targeted?
Was this a hate crime?
Could it have been prevented?
While police are tight-lipped, LGBTQ+ activists say the pattern is impossible to ignore.
A Community Refusing to Let Him Become Another Statistic
Across TikTok, fans are posting tributes, editing montages of his dances, and demanding justice under the hashtags bearing his name. They’re refusing to let his joyful online presence be overshadowed by the violence that ended his life.
For LGBTQ+ followers — especially queer youth in Asia — Ko Tin Zaw Htwe wasn’t just a creator. He was representation. Proof that someone like them could be visible, stylish, funny, followed, loved.
His murder is a devastating reminder that visibility still comes with danger. But it is also a call for louder advocacy, stronger protections and better justice for queer people — especially those living at the intersection of migrant identity, poverty and online fame.
His light touched millions. His community will not let it go dark quietly.