We are heartbroken to learn of the tragic loss of Dominique Brown, a beloved Disney influencer and co-creator of BlackGirlDisney. Her passing is a devastating reminder of the seriousness of life-threatening allergies and the critical need for accommodations to protect individuals with disabilities.
Dominique’s legacy extends far beyond her love for Disney. As disabled Disney fans, we recognize and honor the vital sense of community she fostered for Black Disney fans, a group often excluded from spaces of joy and belonging. Her warmth, vision, and passion inspired countless individuals, and her contributions will continue to resonate throughout the Disney community and beyond.
In her honor, DAS Defenders is launching a petition to demand that life-saving devices like EpiPens and the new Neffy epinephrine inhaler be made readily and freely available for people to carry and use in emergencies – similar to Naloxone. We call for a mandate requiring all establishments that serve food—including restaurants, movie theaters, event spaces, theme parks, and public gathering places—to have these life-saving tools on hand. Additionally, staff must be trained on their location and proper use to ensure swift action when every second counts. https://www.change.org/allergysafety
As advocates for disability rights, we also believe it is a grave injustice that the pharmaceutical industry continues to gatekeep life-saving medications through exorbitant pricing and coverage denials. These tools must be accessible and affordable to prevent further loss of life and harm to the allergy community.
Dominique’s untimely passing underscores the urgent need for better education, accessibility, and accountability. We urge everyone to join us in advocating for these changes by signing our petition and pushing for a future where no life is lost due to preventable inaction or systemic barriers.
To Dominique’s family, friends, and the Black Disney community: we stand in solidarity with you as we mourn the loss of someone who brought light, joy, and community to so many. Her work and spirit will forever inspire us to fight for inclusion and equity.
Rest in peace, Dominique. Your legacy will never be forgotten.
📢 Sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/allergysafety
MORE INFORMATION:
"Influencer Dominique Brown died on December 5 at an industry event due to a severe allergic reaction. She was 34.
News of Brown’s death spread after a BoxLunch event where attendees say she reportedly died after unknowingly consuming food to which she was allergic. " - US Weekly
The heartbreaking loss of Dominique Brown, a beloved content creator and community leader, due to a preventable allergic reaction, underscores a critical and systemic failure in how we protect individuals with life-threatening allergies. Allergies are not merely a personal inconvenience—they are a serious disability that can have fatal consequences without immediate access to life-saving medications.
We call for immediate action to address this urgent public health issue by ensuring:
- EpiPens and Neffy epinephrine inhalers are made free and readily available for public use in emergencies, just as naloxone is accessible to prevent opioid overdoses.
- All establishments that serve food—including restaurants, event spaces, movie theaters, theme parks, and other public gathering places—are required to stock epinephrine devices.
- Staff at these locations receive comprehensive training on the location and proper use of these devices to respond effectively in an emergency.
In an allergic reaction, every second counts. Yet, the exorbitant cost and lack of accessibility of epinephrine devices put countless lives at risk. These life-saving tools must be as universally accessible as naloxone because both are essential in saving lives.
Dominique’s untimely passing underscores the urgent need for better education, accessibility, and accountability. Now is the time to act—to honor the lives we’ve lost to allergy emergencies, to protect those at risk, and to build a safer, more inclusive future where life-saving interventions are available to all.
Sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/allergysafety