Seán McLoughlin’s story is one that feels like a classic Hollywood rags to riches tale.
From a town with a population of just over 80,000 to a YouTube following of nearly 31 million. Turning a love of gaming into a career that’s seen him star alongside Ryan Reynolds in a major blockbuster, launch his own clothing line and help raise millions for charity.
But you might be asking… Seán who? Because the truth is, he couldn’t be any further from typical Hollywood.
Better known to tens of millions of fans across the globe as Jacksepticeye, he’s the cheeky, chipper Irish YouTuber who has turned a hobby into an empire and used that newfound power as a force for good.
One of YouTube’s most lovable, positive and focused creators, Jacksepticeye has railed against the negativity that so easily spreads online and championed inclusivity and kindness.
He’s done things differently – and he’s reaping the rewards.
An accident gave him his name, but his success is no accident
It all started in 2012 when he began to make Let's Play (LP) videos for YouTube under a pseudonym he chose because of a childhood accident which left him with an injured eye.
Taking a touch of childhood trauma and turning it into a positive sort of sums up his entire platform.
For a kid so far removed geographically from his heroes like Markiplier and PewDiePie, as Jacksepticeye, his videos broke down those borders and united millions. People just like Seán felt his enthusiasm, his passion and his need for connection.
For the first five years of his career, he uploaded two videos per day, and each one was stylized with picture-in-video reactions, energetic reactions and commentary, and plenty of swearing (it’s charming when it’s in an Irish accent). Because of the consistency, a brand was built in record time.
People know who he was and what to expect - and he could keep on delivering.
Connection over counts – and doing the right thing, not the easy thing
As Jacksepticeye really took off, what was perhaps unique was his content didn’t pivot. He stuck true to his core principles of content that he genuinely enjoyed making – from energetic, dramatic and hilariously edited LP videos – and talking frankly about topics that impacted gamers around the world.
In an interview with Irish publication The Journal, he reaffirmed what his platform was all about, saying “One of the main things I wanted to do on YouTube is to keep people together.”
And having built a platform that people actively wanted to engage with (including major celebrities who appeared in interviews or features, including Margot Robbie and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson), Sean realized he had to walk the walk when things got tricky.
After years of talking up his positive attitude and push for inclusivity, Sean publicly criticized PewDiePie after his highly controversial video that was heavily condemned with accusations of antisemitism.
Refusing to sit back and let a friend and mentor go unchallenged, the two found an accord and Sean held PewDiePie accountable in the most constructive way possible.
It was a masterclass in staying true to your principles, and cemented Jacksepticeye’s position.
He practices what he preaches. Even when it’s not easy or comfortable. Even if it can jeopardize friendships and business collaborations.
He's also been vocal about MrBeast, saying in a YouTube video with TommyInnit that “it became more about views, money, and popularity than it did about having fun.”
Vulnerability as a strength
Perhaps as a result of his views on YouTube creators like MrBeast, Jacksepticeye has had a few breaks from the platform, but true to his views, he’s been candid and open about it all.
He has talked of his problems with creative and mental burnout, pushing for people all over the world to be mindful of their mental health and look for signs of struggles in others.
And then there’s Thankmas…
Tens of millions of fans. Film roles. Documentaries about his rise to stardom. All of these are impressive, but Jacksepticeye’s greatest achievement will be his legacy in helping others.
Thankmas is the name of the charity initiative he’s been driving since 2017, when he hosted two charity streams for Save The Children which raised over $260,000.
In following years, he has done the same to charities including the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Crisis Text Line – and it was the last one which introduced the name Thankmas.
He’s continued to carry out these charity streams, raising money and spotlighting causes like Child’s Play, the Black Lives Matter campaign, and Red Nose Day.
Jacksepticeye (Sean McLoughlin) might not have ever believed he’d go from a small county to a global powerhouse. But it’s proof that there are audiences out there wanting voices just like his. All it took was the right platform, some genius editing, and maybe a touch of the luck of the Irish…
