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'I Like to Move it' DJ Erick Morillo dead at 49, Internet recalls recent sexual battery charges as fans mourn

The DJ of the 1993 hit song 'I Like to Move it' died at age 49 and with circumstances surrounding his death unclear, fans shared their condolences and shock

DJ Erick Morillo, the man behind the hit 1993 song 'I like to Move it', died at age 49 as his body was found on the morning of September 1 at Miami Beach and the circumstance surrounding his death is unclear. According to media reports, a representative of the Miami Beach Police Department was quoted as saying that investigation into Morillo's death began with a 911 call that was received at 10.42 am to 5660 La Gorce Drive in Miami Beach. The DJ who was popular for playing House internationally and made music under the stage name Reel to Real was accused of sexual battery recently. 

Morillo had turned himself in to the Miami police on August 6 after a rape kit came back testing positive for his DNA. This was in connection to an incident that had occurred in December 2019 when Morillo had worked with a female DJ on Miami's Star Island. After the event, the two DJs along with one other person had returned to Morillo's residence at Miami Beach where the reported incident had taken place. 

According to the police report, the unidentified woman had claimed that he “made several advances towards her, some sexual in nature, but she refused all of his attempts.” The report further added that the woman “reported waking up nude on the bed, with Mr. Morillo standing on the side of the bed also nude.” Morillo was expected to appear for a hearing at court on September 4, in relation to this case. 

While fans of the DJ and his music have shared condolence messages on social media, many have also pointed out that Morillo was the same man who was charged with the sexual battery just days ago. One user wrote on Twitter, "Is everyone forgetting that Eric Morillo was accused of sexual battery and his DNA found after conducting a rape kit?! Y’all literally have the attention span of children." This user further added, "If Datsik died today would y’all cover it?" He is referring to the Canadian DJ here, who was also accused of sexual harassment. 

Another user speculated, "Eric Morillo is dead? It must have went downhill for him since the sexual assault reports last month."

Another user, in the same vein, also tweeted, "Has everyone forgot Eric morillo was getting done for rape or...."

While another fan expressed that the circumstances surrounding Morillo's death only make him look worse. This user tweeted, "Idk, I don’t wanna sound insensitive but this Eric Morillo situation makes him look mighty guilty. Rip of course but also don’t rape ppl."

Yousef, also a fellow musician, shared on Twitter, "Can’t believe it. Only spoke to him last week... he was troubled, less than perfect but was always amazing to me and helped us get circus going in the early days, and we had many amazing times over the 20 years we we’re friends. Genuinely gutted. RIP @ErickMorillo."

Morillo had also struggled with addiction throughout his career and he had also addressed the same in interviews. He had confessed that not being as popular as he once was in the music scene had led to more drugs.