A man who was harassed and ridiculed in the street for dating a transgender woman has taken his own life.

Aspiring musician Maurice Willoughby, 20, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, died of an overdose after facing abuse over his relationship with ex-girlfriend Faith Palmer.

Paying tribute, Palmer said Willoughby, also known online as Reese Him Daddie, had been 'battling his mental demons'.

Footage shared on his Facebook page earlier this year showed a group of men hurling insults at him over his relationship on a street in Philadelphia.

Maurice Willoughby, left, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, died of an overdose after facing abuse over his relationship with ex-girlfriend Faith Palmer, right

The men yelled 'You f*** what?' at him and shouted 'that's not thorough', a term meaning strong or masculine.

He replied: 'F*** tr***ies - so what?'

It is unclear when it was filmed, but he posted it in February and the video circulated widely online before his death.

Willoughby had Palmer's name tattooed across his face and had said in a Facebook post: 'Y'all can say whatever about Faith I really don't care if she not passable.

'I don't care if she wasn't born a woman she is a woman to me, I love her flaws that's what makes her Faith if you heard her story it's motivating..... I'm happy you should be happy for me.'

A grieving Palmer said on social media: 'He wanted to tell his story through his music and now I gotta tell it.'

Palmer had ended the relationship after Willoughby, who had struggled with drug addiction, threatened to kill them both.

'She ran away to safety, and it was then that he committed suicide,' said a statement by the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, a lobby group for black transgender people.

'Our deepest condolences to Faith and also to Reese's family. This is a time to mourn for a lost life and support Faith during this difficult time in her life,' they went on.

Footage shared on his Facebook page earlier this year (above) showed a group of men hurling insults at him over his relationship on a street in Philadelphia

Paying tribute, ex-girlfriend Palmer said Willoughby (pictured in the video), also known online as Reese Him Daddie, had been 'battling his mental demons'

'She is a survivor of abuse and as stated on her Instagram page, a woman who lost her lover.

'Black women are always mourning and caring for the world while trying to keep ourselves alive. Our love and support to Faith.'

Transgender activist Ashlee Marie Preston shared the video and said: 'When a man is confident and secure enough to openly love a trans woman; this is the bullying and harassment he gets.

'When trans attracted men kill us; it's out of fear that this will happen to them if they are outed.

'Reese didn't kill his girlfriend; he killed himself instead.'

Fellow trans rights activist Janet Mock said: 'My heart breaks for Reese, for his girlfriend, and their loved ones.

'These men screaming at him are beyond fragile, standing on a shaky altar of masculinity, too insecure to do what Reese did: Unapologetically love a woman who everyone says is unworthy of love.'

LGBT charity Stonewall also offered condolences, saying: 'We are heartbroken to hear about what's happened to Reese.

'Nobody should be shamed for who they love. We stand against abuse and discrimination in all its forms.'

For confidential support in the United States call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255.

For confidential support in the UK call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.