POPULAR TikToker and social media mega influencer Ophelia Nichols has revealed how supportive followers have helped “heal her heart” after the tragic murder of her son.
Alabama TikTok star Nichols has seen her following explode to 11.5million fans since the murder of Randon Lee, who was gunned down a day shy of his 19th birthday.
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In an exclusive video interview with The U.S. Sun, Nichols revealed that focusing on creating videos has helped her stay mentally well through grief.
She says that she fights off depression by interacting with many other grief-stricken families coping with loss.
Nicholas admits her “grief journey” heals others and helps her "heart repair a little day by day.”
While the mother of three admits she is unable to put into words her trauma, she has found inspiration as an unofficial grief counselor.
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Incredibly, she revealed that trolls continue to attack Lee after police declared him a drug dealer.
But the 42-year-old refuses to even respond to their often hateful attacks, defiantly insisting: “You never look good trying to make somebody else look bad. We know we are good people.”
Prosecutors and police told the media that Lee was dealing marijuana when the transaction turned nasty, and he was shot dead in his car in June 2022.
Nichols cited becoming a counselor for those dealing with loss and heartbreak as a “positive” in her life.
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“I didn’t realize how mamas were following me even before, and a lot of them found me in the midst of the tragedy," the TikToker said.
“It has brought a lot of people to me with that grief journey.
“There are people that have healed me on social media. Every single day a little piece of my heart is healed."
Getting tearful, she continued: "They think I do something for them. They are doing something for me every day.
“Before I lost my son, I didn’t have a lot of people asking me how to deal with grief.
“But since this has happened, other mothers have kind of flocked to me not just for advice, but to lift me up and saying: ‘You are part of our club now, you didn’t ask to be a part of this one, neither did we, we will get through this together.’
“So I have now been in contact with so many other mamas that have been through the same exact things.
"The grief journey has really blown up regarding myself and my account, and I am okay with that because that is another step in helping people.
"I might not have the right words, but I certainly can show them how I do it daily. I talk about things on a bad day with my grief and okay days. I share it all. I am just like everybody else.
“I want them to know I am no different and no better. I am just me. We are going through the same thing, and we will stick by each other.”
Nichols spoke exclusively on the red carpet at the Cheer Choice Awards at The Palms Resort in Las Vegas.
She won an award for Cheer of the Year “for being a positive and influential figure on social media.”
Nicholas feels being real with her emotions in online posts has helped her recovery.
Nichols, known as "Mama Tot" to her followers, has added more than 4million followers since Lee’s murder on TikTok and has garnered hundreds of millions of video likes.
With tears welling in her eyes, she added: “I cannot say it in words how I do it.
“I just get up every day because I have to live. My baby child wants me to live.
“I don’t think in words tell somebody how I am doing. I can show them I get up, put my face on, and make an effort every single day. I do not want to fall back. I am such an open book.
“But for someone who has lost my baby child, depression could be sitting on my shoulder. So, I try to do everything and anything I can to be proactive about my own mental health in the middle of my grief. It’s important to me. I’ve got people who depend on me.
“I have got my husband and other three grown children that depend on me - and 11.5million people that depend on me.”
Prichard Police Department Detective Jason Hadaway says Lee and a few suspects drove to a station in Prichard, a suburb of Mobile, intending to sell and distribute drugs at about 8pm CDT on June 24, 2022.
Prosecutors claim the suspect entered Lee’s vehicle and shot him before fleeing the scene.
Wounded, Lee drove to an Energize gas station across the street before he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Reuben Gulley, 20, was booked on the murder charge of Lee in Mobile County in connection with the murder.
In a poignant moment, Nichols feels her son’s legacy is not tarnished by the drug dealer claims in the criminal case.
“Through the midst of the investigation, they felt that my son was there to sell a bag of marijuana to the young man.
“After seeing surveillance cameras, it looked quite odd because he got into the back seat of my baby child’s car, and 11 seconds later, he was gone.
“Nobody knows what was said or done. They do feel he was there to sell him a bag of marijuana.
"Nothing is worth taking a life. It doesn’t take away the fact I am proud of my son.
"My son lived on his own, paid his bills, at almost 19, had a good job. That’s not gonna take away anything. We are very proud of him.”
The influencer, whose handle is shoelover99, feels sorry for the alleged killer’s family.
“It’s not just my family that is suffering. That other young man’s family now is gonna suffer too.
It’s two families hurting. I empathize with his mother and father. I know that hurts them too. They didn’t raise his son to do that."
“But he had a choice that night, but for whatever reason, in 11 seconds, that is what he chose.”
Nichols prides herself on positivity but never claps back at haters and trolls.
“I always say you never look good trying to make somebody else look bad.
“I just ignore, block, and delete, and really do not give them any attention. We know we are good people. 11.5m people know we are good people.
“You get what you put out into this world. If you are constantly giving out as much positive love as possible, you better believe that is what is going to come back to you.
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“Those types of people don’t sit at my dinner table with me. I think of it like that.”
A trial date for Gulley is pending.
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