JoCat’s Indefinite Hiatus Announcement
Last month, the streamer and YouTuber JoCat, known for his content on Monster Hunter, D&D, and Final Fantasy 14, announced an indefinite hiatus. This decision came after JoCat faced a wave of harassment following his video “I Like Girls,” a gender-swapped parody of Lizzo’s “Boys.” The video, which was meant for a specific audience, attracted unwanted attention from fringe elements, leading to doxxing attempts, threats of violence, and the delivery of a suspicious package.
In his original announcement, JoCat expressed his intention to complete certain projects before taking his break. He mentioned that the harassment had taken a toll on him, necessitating a step back from his online presence for an undetermined period.
Completion of Projects Before Hiatus
Before embarking on his indefinite hiatus, JoCat was committed to wrapping up a few key projects. Among these was “Heart of Elynthi,” a Dungeons & Dragons livestream that he Dungeon Masters. JoCat planned to post this as an unlisted, demonetised video, ensuring that fans could still enjoy the content without generating revenue during his break.
Additionally, JoCat aimed to complete his playthrough of Baldur’s Gate 3, a popular role-playing video game. The final sessions of this playthrough were to be shared in the same unlisted and demonetised format on YouTube, allowing his audience to witness the conclusion of his journey in the game.
The JOmega Charity Run
In the world of Final Fantasy 14, an Ultimate is a formidable challenge, known as an 8-man boss fight that ranks among the game’s most difficult encounters. These Ultimates are a series of ultra-hard boss fights strung together, where even a single error can lead to the failure of the entire team. A successful clear of an Ultimate typically takes around 15-20 minutes, but learning the intricacies of the fight can span months.
JoCat embarked on a year-long quest to conquer an Ultimate, transforming the endeavor into a charity drive for trans rights. He pledged to donate one dollar for every death he encountered during the raid. After a grueling series of battles and over 1,500 deaths, JoCat completed the raid and made a personal donation of nearly $2,000. The charity event, in total, raised over $60,000 for Gendered Intelligence, with donations still being accepted for a week following the completion of the raid.
| Total Deaths | Amount Raised |
|---|---|
| 1,573 | Over $60,000 |
Community Support and Gratitude
Following the completion of the challenging Ultimate raid in Final Fantasy 14, JoCat was met with an outpouring of support from the community. In a celebratory gesture, supporters gathered around JoCat in the virtual world of Radz-at-Han, where they flooded his screen with particle effects, akin to a standing ovation within the MMO.
JoCat took to his live stream to express his heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported him. He thanked his team, friends, and especially the trans friends he made along the way, who inspired him not only to undertake the charity run but also to embrace his true self. Special mentions were given to Sausoftheroll from the Ulti Project for developing and sharing strategies, and to Gendered Intelligence for their collaboration on certain stretch goals.
JoCat’s Final Message to Fans
JoCat concluded his announcement with a poignant message to his fans. He shared his uncertainty about returning to the online world, acknowledging the need for a break from the pressures and challenges he had faced. Despite this, he expressed profound gratitude for the support he received over the years, which had a significant impact on his life, including helping him purchase a house, finding his fiancée, and assisting in paying off his parents’ house.
He reflected on the journey with his audience, stating, “I don’t know when I’ll be back, if I ever will be… but after so many times of saying ‘you’re welcome’, it’s now my turn to say ‘thank you’. So thank you, I hope you have a wonderful night and a beautiful year.”
that’s one of the best presentations I’ve ever seen, and it flows like a YouTube video … that’s pretty amazing.
— JoCat @JoCat105.twitter.com (@JoCat105) March 29, 2024
