The infamous PopularMMOs has returned to YouTube after taking time away. He returns, sharing his journey through sobriety and addiction.
Patrick Julianelle, known online as PopularMMOs, rose to fame in the early 2010s with his Minecraft videos and roleplay series, featuring his wife Jen Flagg, known online as GamingWithJen. Their most iconic series were Lucky Block challenges, Minecraft Mob battles, and Epic Proportions. These videos felt like episodes of a show as they portrayed their adventures together in custom worlds. Their combined humor and compatibility made them ultimately popular among many.
The couple had shocked fans when they announced their divorce in May 2019. The reason for their breakup was that Flagg wanted to grow a family, while Julianelle claimed he never wanted to have any kids. After the heartbreaking divorce, Julianelle uploaded videos trying to introduce new collaborators, but fans were disappointed and missed the original duo. Due to these events, he experienced a mental toll and slowly stopped uploading to YouTube. Many of his fans questioned why he left the face of the internet and didn’t know the full reasoning. He was silently battling addiction due to the distress.
In May 2022, a police bodycam of Julianelle lying blacked-out drunk on the sidewalk was released. In the video, officers woke him up, but he was unsteady, incoherent, and tried to resist, according to Dexerto. In the footage, Julianelle said, “I’m tired of it all,” which portrayed his emotional struggle. This was quickly spread online and caused concern among fans for his mental well-being. “It was really sad to see someone who made my childhood so happy go through so much pain,” said Madison Santos, junior.
On Sept. 1, Julianelle posted a new video signaling his comeback and his start to sobriety. He showed himself receiving treatment at a hospital, returning to the gym, and walking outdoors, according to Sportskeeda. Fans have welcomed him back with excitement and support. “I have tons of thanks for my amazing girlfriend and friends who helped me through the hardest times of my life. I appreciate you all for being here for me, too,” Julianelle said. He has posted numerous videos on TikTok documenting his days of sobriety and is currently celebrating day 150. He is also officially off probation, which is another milestone in his personal recovery.
PopularMMOs’ return is not just a YouTube comeback, it’s a story of battling mental health, addiction, and his turn to sobriety. Fans celebrate his progress and have supported him through his journey all along. “It’s inspiring to see him come back and focus on his health,” said Caydyn Sorbellini, junior. His story shows that even during hard times, support is all around, and it’s possible to overcome challenges and personally grow.