Those close to Colin Kroll took to social media to memorialize the Vine/HQ Trivia co-founder.
Colin Kroll, the creator of well-known apps Vine and HQ Trivia, was found dead of a suspected overdose in his Manhattan apartment on Sunday.
According to People, a New York City Police Department spokesperson has confirmed that an unresponsive Kroll was found in his home Sunday, Dec. 16 and was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Although preliminary results point to an overdose, the NYPD spokesperson said the medical examiner will determine the official cause of death. There was no report as to what substance Kroll potentially overdosed on.
Those close to Kroll responded to the news with sadness.
An HQ Trivia spokeswoman released a statement to People and wrote, “We learned today of the passing of our friend and founder, Colin Kroll, and it’s with deep sadness that we say goodbye. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”
Rus Yusupov, Kroll’s Vine and HQ Trivia co-founder, tweeted about how Kroll had made the world a better place.
“So sad to hear about the passing of my friend and co-founder Colin Kroll,” he wrote. “My thoughts & prayers go out to his loved ones. I will forever remember him for his kind soul and big heart. He made the world and internet a better place. Rest in peace, brother.”
Kroll and his co-founders launched video app Vine in 2013, Time reports. But in 2014, Kroll left Vine to co-found HQ Trivia, which launched in August 2017.
Various complaints had been filed against Kroll over the years, including from an HQ Trivia employee claiming Kroll had an “aggressive management style,” People reported. Recode has also reported that Kroll was let go from Twitter, which acquired Vine, for similar complaints.
In March, Kroll spoke to Axios about the allegations, saying he had learned from the circumstances and changed for the better.
“As reported in the media, I was let go from Vine four years ago for poor management,” he said. “It was a painful experience, but an eye-opening one that served as a catalyst for professional development and greater awareness in the office.”
“I now realize that there are things I said and did that made some feel unappreciated or uncomfortable,” he added. “I apologize to those people. Today, I’m committed to building HQ Trivia into a culture-defining product and supporting the dedicated team that makes it all possible.”
