Truth Behind Zyzz's Death Revealed in New Film

Aziz Shavershian, an Australian teenager who rose to fame in the 2000s as the fitness influencer Zyzz, is the subject of a new documentary. He cultivated a significant online presence through YouTube videos showcasing his workouts and bodybuilding physique, often engaging in provocative online behavior. Shavershian passed away unexpectedly in 2011 at the age of 22, leading to widespread speculation about the cause of his death.

Directed by Selina Miles, "Poster Boy: Becoming Zyzz" explores Shavershian's life, starting from his upbringing in Sydney. The documentary delves into his immigrant background and his struggles to fit in, finding community through bodybuilding with his brother Said, also a fitness personality known as Chestbrah. They created personas within online forums and YouTube, a tactic now common but novel at the time.

Shavershian's pursuit of his aesthetic led to increased experimentation with performance-enhancing drugs and other substances. He also struggled with anxiety, using benzodiazepines to cope. Despite building a following and earning money through his online ventures, he reportedly also engaged in controversial online sales to fund his lifestyle.

The documentary, with the cooperation of Shavershian's parents, finally reveals the toxicology report findings. While he did have an enlarged heart, the cause of death was acute respiratory failure resulting from a drug interaction involving morphine, cocaine, and benzodiazepines, rather than a heart attack in a sauna as widely believed. The film aims to serve as a cautionary tale about the pressures faced by young men in online fitness culture.