Martin Manley story traumatises TikTok users – sports writer created blog before death
Andrew Walker
Published Apr 03, 2026
Some TikTok users have been traumatised by the resurfaced story of Martin Manley, a sports writer who created a blog detailing his life before sending a final post on the day of his death.
The tragic story of Martin Manley received nationwide attention nine years ago.
His story has gained spotlight on TikTok after a video went viral on the social media platform.
Who was Martin Manley?
Martin Manley was a 60-year-old blogger and former sports writer for the Kansas City Star who died in August 2013.
He left the publication in 2012 and launched his own sports blog. Manley was known for his passion for statistics and he created a basketball statistic – efficiency rating – that is still used to this day.
In 2013, he set up a website on which he wrote about his decision to end his life, Business Insider reported at the time.
After uploading one last post, Manley committed suicide on August 15, 2013. It was his 60th birthday.
Many readers reported some of the blog’s contents as traumatising, while other sections of the site included pages about his personal interests and career.
Chilling story of Martin Manley surfaces
Manley’s death has resurfaced on social media following a viral video uploaded on a TikTok account called Reddit Moments.
One user asked the page’s author what they thought was the creepiest thing on the internet – the creator mentioned Manley.
Slate reported Manley’s blog domain was pre-paid for the next five years but the original website was removed a day after his death.
As reported by CNN, Manley planned everything in advance, including scheduling emails in which he informed his family, friends and the local police station about his plan.
TikTok users traumatised by tale
The resurfaced story has left many TikTok users traumatised and a number of them offered their thoughts in the comments section under the video.
“Yeah, I sure love being traumatized more at work than I already had to be,” one person wrote.
“According to his page, he really thought it was the right thing to do. Sad,” someone else commented.
A third user noted: “The saddest part is he didn’t live long enough to see the Royals’ 2015 World Series or the Chiefs’ Super Bowl.”
If you are affected by any issues raised in the article or would like someone to speak to, please call the Samaritans for free on 116 123. You can also email them at [email protected] or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch in the UK. In the US, please visit Samaritans USA for more information.
You can also contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text 741741 to get in touch with the Crisis Text Line. Americans can now call or text 988 to reach out and speak to a counsellor.
