Our hearts are broken by the heartbreaking news of Ponzu, the beloved Instagram-famous cat, who passed away under tragic circumstances. At just three years old, Ponzu had captured the hearts of thousands with his charming companionship alongside Mango the parrot, Tofu the dog, and fellow feline Kimchi (petshun.com, People.com).
On Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021, Ponzu was walking on a leash with his owner, Chanan Aksornnan, in McCarren Park, Brooklyn. In an unimaginable turn of events, a child tripped over his leash, reportedly dragging him and even tossing him into the air (petshun.com, LatestLY). The shock and physical trauma he suffered triggered a heart attack—Ponzu tragically died right there in the park (petshun.com, People.com).
The incident didn’t end with Ponzu’s death. A verbal confrontation quickly escalated into a physical assault: Aksornnan was punched and kicked by several individuals, and her boyfriend suffered a broken nose severe enough to need emergency surgery (petshun.com, People.com). A video of the altercation was later shared online and even surfaced on Reddit, stirring widespread outrage (The Daily Dot, LatestLY).
Authorities confirmed an arrest: 42-year-old Evelyn Serrano was charged with assault connected to this violent episode (People.com, The Daily Dot). In the aftermath, Aksornnan took to Instagram to break the news: “Our beloved Ponzu died … we are traumatized, lost for words, heartbroken” (People.com).
Ponzu’s devoted followers were devastated by the loss of their joyful friend—his unique spirit and gentle presence had lit up their feeds and lives. Though gone too soon, Ponzu’s memory will live on in the hearts of those who adored him.
