Most Emotional Videos By Famous YouTubers
The introduction of YouTube into the entertainment sphere brought with it the potential to experience rockstar-level fame with the right content, number of clicks, and — of course — subscribers. According to this feature from The Washington Post, kids in 2018 view YouTube celebrities as role models, heroes, and goals to which they should aspire. To put it simply, YouTube celebrities are basically the new wave of the Hollywood elite.
However, it's not all fun and games (though a majority of YouTube channels are dedicated to fun and games). YouTube stars are people, too — experiencing their own highs, lows, and everything in between. For better or for worse, the YouTube medium has given viewers a lens directly into the lives of people they've never even met — an aspect YouTube celebrities have certainly capitalized on.
That said, the following stars have also used YouTube to be completely honest and vulnerable with their viewership, leading to some seriously emotional moments. Here are some of the most emotional videos from your favorite YouTube stars.
Liza Koshy and David Dobrik break up
Ah, young love. It's beautiful until, well, it isn't — and no one knows this better than mega-famous YouTubers (and former sweethearts) Liza Koshy and David Dobrik.
The fun-loving pair announced their relationship in February 2016 in a video published to Dobrik's channel titled, "ARE THEY DATING!!?" Of course, fans of the YouTubers had long expected a deeper connection between the two, thanks to their many fun and flirtatious appearances in each other's videos. Known for their signature styles of humor and Koshy's always on-point pun game, Dobrik and Koshy were basically the Jim and Pam of YouTube celebrities — until it all came suddenly crashing down in a single video aptly titled, "We broke up."
In the video, Koshy and Dobrik tearfully explain that they had ended their relationship six months prior to filming the breakup announcement video, citing busy schedules. "We already felt like we were, like, living separate lives," Koshy explained. "But neither of us were coming to terms with it, so I decided we should break up." Luckily, the two have remained best friends — and you never know what could happen in the future!
Christina Newman reveals she has terminal cancer
Christina Newman joined the YouTube vlogging community October 10, 2006 with the intention to document her journey to lose weight before her upcoming wedding. What the 31-year-old mother didn't know, however, was that she would end up documenting a much more personal journey that would go on to affect the lives of all who watched her videos.
On January 15, 2011, Newman posted a video to her channel titled, "I have cancer." In the video, the YouTube vlogger explained that she was recently diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Though the cancer was undoubtedly serious, Newman put on a brave face for the video and seemed hopeful she would win her battle.
However, on January 9, 2014, Newman posted a video tearfully updating her followers that her cancer had spread to her bones. "It's so surreal to know that you have terminal cancer," Newman said as she wiped tears from her eyes. "You just don't know how much time you have." Unfortunately, Newman passed away in October 2014, less than a year after she announced the cancer had spread.
The Syndicate Project's bad news
Tom Cassell posted his very first YouTube video on September 3, 2010 to The Syndicate Project (now known as Life of Tom) — Cassell's channel dedicated to "Let's Play" videos (akin to the ever in-demand live streaming videos) for popular video games like Call of Duty, Minecraft, Modern Warfare 2, and Halo. Considering Cassell's channel is one of the most popular on YouTube, it's no surprise he has hoards of dedicated fans.
One of those fans was a 15-year old boy named Alec who was battling terminal cancer. Alec revealed to the Make-a-Wish Foundation that one of his greatest dreams was to meet up and spend a day with Cassell, his favorite YouTuber — and Cassell happily obliged. A sweet video was posted to The Syndicate Project on June 17, 2016 documenting the pair's day together and Alec's contagious joy.
However, on July 30, 2016, Cassell posted a video titled, "bad news :(," in which he tearfully revealed that Alec had passed away. "How can people so [expletive] young get hit with such disgusting things in life," Cassell asked through tears.
Boogie2988 illustrates his lifelong struggles
"Draw My Life" videos are increasingly popular among YouTube celebrities. The simplistic style of needing only a marker and dry-erase board helps content creators feel more comfortable opening up and being vulnerable with their fans. Many well-known YouTubers have completed "Draw My Life" videos, including Jenna Marbles, Meghan McCarthy, and Hannah Hart.
However, one of the most emotional Draw My Life videos came from a YouTube user by the name of Steven Jason Williams, better known by his screen-name, Boogie2988 — or better yet, his infamous, angry character, Francis. "A lot of people have asked me to draw my life story," Williams says at the start of his Draw My Life video. "It's kind of sad," something he repeated throughout the video.
Sad is an understatement. While drawing his life story, Williams details his personal experience with emotionally and physically abusive parents, the death of his mother, and his lifelong struggle with his weight. "I owe you everything," he says at the end of the video, thanking his fans. "I owe you my life."
Miranda Sings announces her divorce
Miranda Sings is one of the most popular YouTube personalities ever, but you'd likely not recognize the woman behind the hopelessly and awkwardly confident aspiring pop star with the signature red smooch. Colleen Ballinger debuted Miranda Sings on YouTube in 2008, garnering hoards of adoring fans who loved to watch Miranda try to (incorrectly) explain social events of the time, attempt to give tutorials, and — of course — sing.
Diehard fans of Miranda Sings and Ballinger were well-acquainted with Joshua David Evans, fellow YouTuber and Ballinger's longterm boyfriend-turned-husband. From an outsider's perspective, it seemed like Ballinger and Evans were a match made in heaven. But as fans learned in September 2016 when both Ballinger and Evans revealed their decision to divorce in separate videos, what you see on the internet isn't always reality.
"We've shown you everything because we wanted to, and I don't regret any of that," Ballinger tearfully said in her video, which has since been removed from her channel. "We chose to not share with you the hard parts of our relationship. And there were a lot of hard parts of our relationship."
Ingrid Nilsen comes out
Ingrid Nilsen burst onto the YouTube vlogger scene in November 2009 when she posted her very first makeup tutorial video titled, "How To: Flawless Red Lips." Since then, this mega-popular YouTube celebrity has majorly evolved — in more way than one. Fans of Nilsen have witnessed the star transform from a seemingly shy makeup guru to a total lifestyle expert — enviably confident, while also relatable, authentic, and bursting with ambition. But one video sticks out in the minds of fans as the moment Nilsen truly came into her own — her coming out video.
On June 9, 2015, Nilsen posted a video to her channel aptly titled, "Something I Want You To Know (Coming Out)." In the emotional video (nearly 20 minutes in length), Nilsen heaves a sigh of relief and completely beams as she says, "There's something that I want you to know, and that something is ... I'm gay!" What follows is an emotional rollercoaster, including Nilsen tearfully confessing how lucky she felt that her ex-boyfriend had been so supportive of her decision to come out. Talk about a feel-good tearjerker.
Markiplier's Draw My Life video
Mark Edward Fischbach, more famously known as Markiplier, is arguably one of the most successful and well-known YouTubers of his generation. Since joining YouTube in 2012, Markiplier has garnered a subscriber count over 21 million and counting. Though the YouTuber is known famously for his walkthrough and "Let's Play" videos inspired by horror and indie video games, one particular video of Markipliers had fans reaching for the nearest tissue box.
On May 4, 2013, Markiplier published a "Draw My Life" video to his channel, explaining to fans in his voiceover at the start of the video, "I think this video is really going to explain to you guys how I got from point A to point B, and how you guys have helped change my life."
What fans didn't expect to discover was just how much Markiplier's had been through in his life. With his signature baritone voice, the YouTuber emotionally recounted memories from his parents' divorce, growing up in Hawaii, and holding his father's hand as he died from cancer. Pass the tissues, please.
Courtney Warner battles a brain tumor
Courtney Warner, better known to fans of her YouTube channel as Courtelizz1, was a seemingly normal 26-year-old woman in 2017, working as a teacher and wowing fans with her impressive makeup application skills on YouTube. However, Warner's "normal" life came crashing down around her in the spring of 2017 when Warner was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She posted a video to her channel on May 8, 2017 to reveal the scary news to her fans and announce plans to have surgery to remove the tumor, though she assured her viewers that her doctors didn't believe her tumor was cancerous.
However, in June 2017 — just a little over a month after Warner revealed her diagnosis to fans — she published a video to her channel titled, "I Have Grade 3 Cancer." In the video, Warner talks through tears as she reveals to fans that she does, indeed, have cancer.
Luckily, Warner is in good spirits and still documenting her cancer-fighting journey for fans on her channel. Because the tumor was on the speech and language center of her brain, she's been struggling with her speaking and reading, and she's bringing her fans along for her road to recovery.