The influencer world lost a bright light last week. Dominique Brown, a 34-year-old Disney enthusiast and co-founder of BlackGirlDisney, tragically passed away at a holiday food brand event in Los Angeles hosted by BoxLunch. Her death was caused by a severe allergic reaction after ingesting food that contained a known allergen.
BoxLunch is a retail company that partners with popular franchises—think Disney, Star Wars, etc.—and has cultivated a reputation for social responsibility. For every $10 spent, they donate a meal to someone in need through a partnership with Feeding America. Apparently, meal recipients with allergies need to look a little closer, though, because Dominique Brown had clearly communicated her allergy to event staff before consuming anything. She was reassured that the food she was offered was allergen-free—a tragic error that ultimately proved fatal. What happened to Dominique Brown is a shared nightmare for adults with food allergies and parents of children who suffer from them. Those who don’t live with the fear of their food causing serious injury—or death, in this case—often fail to grasp the severity of the issue or fully comprehend the consequences of not taking cross-contamination risks seriously.
For individuals with severe food allergies, eating food prepared by others is always a risk. Allergies are a life-threatening condition, not an inconvenience invented for attention. At the BoxLunch event that claimed Brown’s life, she specifically asked staff if her food contained the allergen that ultimately caused her reaction. After taking the responsible step of asking about her safety, she was reassured that the allergen wasn’t present. Brown had no reason to doubt the staff who reassured her and proceeded to eat the meal offered. This misinformation—born from carelessness or lack of proper training—is ultimately what led to her untimely death.
Dominique Brown’s death was entirely preventable and could have been avoided with better communication and stricter safety protocols. Those in the food service industry are responsible for the well-being of their patrons and must ensure that allergens are clearly communicated. Common allergens should be clearly labeled, and staff must be trained to accurately answer questions about menu items. This allows individuals with allergies to make informed decisions about what they consume and significantly reduces the risk of tragic outcomes like this.
Dominique Brown had so much more to accomplish. The Black Disney fan community has been forever impacted by her work as a content creator. Through co-founding BlackGirlDisney, she made strides toward making Disney culture more inclusive and representative of all fans, especially those often left on the margins of the magic. Her efforts to build a community for marginalized Disney fans leave a legacy she should still be here to enjoy—a powerful beacon for others to carry on in her honor.
Moving forward, we hope her tragic and preventable death leads to greater awareness and improved allergen safety policies in public spaces. Bright lights like Dominique’s should not go out prematurely. Advocating for change and ensuring safer conditions for those with food allergies is the least we can do to honor her life and the lasting contributions she made to the Disney community.
