How Tanner Martin’s Star Wars-Themed Funeral Honored His Final Wish
So here’s the cliffhanger: Tanner Martin announced his own death on Instagram and then got the most cinematic send-off possible. The 30-year-old influencer, who had been candidly sharing his colon cancer battle since 2020, left behind a heartfelt video on June 25 where he calmly declared, “Hey, it’s me, Tanner. If you’re watching this, I’m dead,” and thanked followers for their love. He specifically asked fans to keep prayers coming for his wife, Shay, and newborn daughter AmyLou (nicknamed Jiaozi), whom they welcomed just a month earlier. In that viral clip, Tanner signed off with a hopeful line—“Life was awesome. Hopefully there’s something after this”—cementing his signature blend of honesty and optimism (E! Online, People).
Exactly one week after that posthumous announcement, family and pals gathered on July 5 for a celebration of Tanner’s life that felt more like a pop-culture mash-up than a somber farewell. His dad, Thomas Martin, delivered an emotional eulogy recalling Tanner’s boundless positivity. “It is an honor and pleasure to be his dad—and it still is,” he shared, adding that Tanner “was always switched on to be happy and friendly.” In a touching anecdote, Thomas revealed he and Tanner’s brother Spencer spent Tanner’s final days binge-watching his favorite trilogies: Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Lord of the Rings.
True to his nerd-chic style, Tanner’s last wish turned his funeral into a full Star Wars tribute. In a June 29 Instagram post, Shay invited attendees to don any Star Wars gear in his honor and tagged the casket with stickers of lightsabers, X-wings, and his beloved characters. Platforms lit up with #MayTheForceBeWithTanner as fans shared snapshots of themed attire—Mandalorian cloaks, Rebel Alliance tees, even Yoda headbands—turning the graveside into what felt like a real-life cantina send-off.
Tanner’s decision to announce his own death wasn’t a gimmick but a thoughtful gesture. As he explained, making his own farewell video meant he could personally thank supporters and prepare his family for grief. In the clip, he urged viewers to “continue offering prayers” for Shay and Jiaozi, emphasizing that his final act was not just about goodbyes but about setting up those he loved to carry on. The blend of candor, humor, and blockbuster-style homage turned a painful moment into a poignant finale—one that fits Tanner’s legacy of sharing life’s highs and lows with unfiltered authenticity (People, E! Online).
There you have it: Tanner Martin’s parting gift was a full-blown Star Wars spectacular that reminded everyone why he built such a devoted following. Anyway, that’s the deal. So there’s that.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online, People Magazine
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
