In an astonishing turn of events, the TikTok community found itself reeling from the unforeseen and tragic death of the beloved influencer Taylor Rousseau Grigg. On October 5th, her husband, Cameron Grigg, shared the earth-shattering news in a tear-jerking Instagram post that has since traveled through the digital and social media platforms with an intensity that only heartfelt messages can muster.
Cameron’s touching missive offers a clear view into the depth of feeling the closest to Taylor experienced after her untimely death. It seems almost impossible to comprehend the sadness from losing a friend that one anticipated growing old with or from losing a sibling that still had so much life ahead. Yet, that is what Cameron and those who were closest to Taylor are grappling with now. And to Cameron’s immense credit, he has written a piece that not only captures the essence of Taylor but also serves as a comforting balm for those who are mourning her loss. Indeed, the way Cameron tells it, Taylor was a friend many would be lucky to have, someone who touched almost every moment spent with her in a profound and resonant way.
Cameron highlights Taylor’s exceptional courage, sharing that her confidence in the Lord eclipsed every troublesome moment she dealt with. “Even in her darkest hours, I know she saved my life and so many others out there,” he translates the love and appreciation for Taylor’s resilience into terms that might connect his audience to the admirable person Taylor was, quite literally, even moments before her passage from this earth. No matter what struggle she faced, Taylor never allowed herself to slip into a selfish demeanor or mindset. Her situation was just that—a situation she wasn’t going to let bog her down, even when it seemed like a Herculean task not to let it weigh heavily on her heart and soul. While some may have heartily entertained the idea of Taylor serving as an inspiration, I’m certain she would have brushed such talk aside and trod on with her life, serving as an inspiration to whom “it might concern.”
The social media post of Cameron Diaz left on the occasion of the death of his wife, Taylor Goldsmith, is packed with emotion and intimacy. Yet at its very center lies an unfathomable mystery. Cameron and Taylor were about to embark on a new chapter in life, one in which they were supposed to become parents. Instead, with everything so sudden and unexpected, Cameron now is faced with the reality of mourning and the prospects of worrying about finances in the absence of any insurance to cover their medical expenses. Cameron is so much in love with Taylor and so lost in grief for Taylor, yet he is asking for the kindness of strangers to help pay for the medical expenses that have left both he and Taylor deeply in debt.
A friend of the Griggs set up a GoFundMe to help cover the medical expenses that have piled up since Taylor’s death. Cameron, the Griggs’ friend and GoFundMe creator, told the Griggs’ supporters a little about Taylor and expressed his and her love for all who have reached out in these troubled times. “I love y’all, Taylor loves y’all,” he said in a message shared on TikTok that has now gotten more than 30,000 views. “Thank you all so much for the support and kindness you’ve shown our digital family. It means the world to us.” Taylor Rousseau Grigg was only 25 years old. Turning the other cheek to an adversary, even unto death, takes strength and resilience. Taylor’s life, all too short, was an exemplar of not backing down.
