A parenting YouTuber faced backlash for 'rehoming' her adopted son with autism after monetizing his videos. This is how the story unfolded.

Margot HarrisMay 29, 2020, 21:05 IST

Myka and James Stauffer, shared their parenting and adoption journey with followers on Myka's lifestyle YouTube channel.Myka Stauffer/YouTube

Over the last six years, Myka Stauffer has become a popular parenting YouTuber and lifestyle influencer, boasting over 700,000 subscribers.
Since starting her channel in 2014, Stauffer has shared parenting tips, home organization tutorials, updates on her pregnancies and children, and her "adoption journey."
In a series of videos, the YouTuber and her husband revealed their plans to adopt, updated subscribers on their process of navigating an international adoption, and shared their son's progress as he adapted to his new home and family.
In a recent video, the influencer and her husband told viewers that they had placed the boy in a new home that could better address his medical needs.
Since posting the video, Stauffer has received intense backlash online, with critics questioning the monetization of her lifestyle, her parenting abilities, and her lack of transparency online.

Since founding her YouTube channel in 2014, Myka Stauffer has established herself as a popular parenting vlogger, lifestyle influencer, and international adoption advocate. The one-time mother of five from Columbus, Ohio racked up a dedicated 700,000-subscriber following with her home organizing tutorials, parenting and homeschooling tips, and an emotional video series chronicling her adoption journey and the realities of parenting a child with developmental disabilities and autism. Her digital brand proved to be lucrative, as she secured high-profile partnerships and sponsorships with companies like Danimals and Dreft.

Stauffer's most recent content, however, has thrust her into the spotlight beyond her select YouTube following. In her latest video, she and her husband, James, revealed that they were no longer parents of five, but rather parents of four. Nearly three years after adopting a son, Huxley, from China — and sharing updates on his progress in monetized videos — they announced their decision to place him in a new home that would be better equipped to address his medical needs.

Since posting the video on May 26, the couple has received intense backlash online from critics accusing them of 'giving away' their child, exploitation, and problematic parenting.

Here's a timeline of the YouTuber's content creation that stirred up controversy online.

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Stauffer began uploading parenting videos to her YouTube channel in 2014.

In the earliest video available on Stauffer's channel, she updates viewers on her 6-month-old daughter's developmental milestones. Myka Stauffer/YouTube

In 2016, the Stauffers posted their first video addressing their intentions to adopt a son.

Myka Stauffer told subscribers that she'd "always wanted" to adopt and the couple had settled on adopting a boy from China. Myka Stauffer/YouTube

In 2017, Stauffer posted a video of her son Huxley's adoption day.

Myka Stauffer holds her son in footage from his adoption day. Myka Stauffer/YouTube

Stauffer continued to post content updating her subscribers and Instagram followers on Huxley's progress as he adjusted to his home in the United States.

One of Stauffer's update videos included her list of five things she didn't expect from her international adoption. Myka Stauffer/YouTube

Stauffer soon became an advocate for children with disabilities and for international adoption.

In February of 2020, Stauffer's posted her last update on Huxley, writing in an Instagram post that recent days had "been hard" and she wished for more "guidance."

Stauffer's followers began to speculate that something was amiss when she posted a cryptic caption accompanying her Mother's Day Instagram photo.

As Huxley remained absent from his mother's social media, Stauffer's followers began asking questions — and some fans claim that their comments were deleted and that Stauffer blocked them on social media.

After weeks of fan speculation, Stauffer uploaded an emotional video in which she explained that Huxley had been placed in a new home.

In an emotional video, the Stauffers said that their attempts to provide adequate interventions for Huxley had been unsuccessful, so they placed him with a family that would be better equipped to care for him. Myka Stauffer/YouTube

Since posting the video, the Stauffers have received some positive comments on YouTube — but social media criticism on other platforms was swift.

Both Myka and James Stauffer have received intense backlash on social media since announcing that Huxley had been placed in a new home. Myka Stauffer/YouTube

The Stauffers' lawyers have since issued a statement regarding the matter.

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