- YouTubers Myka and James Stauffer adopted a boy named Huxley from China in 2017 and documented it online.
- In 2020, the Stuaffers were criticized after revealing they placed him in a new home.
- In a since-deleted video, the couple said that Huxley was “thriving,” and “happy” in his new forever home.
Almost five years after YouTubers Myka and James Stauffer faced waves of backlash for their decision to place their adopted son Huxley in a new home, plenty of questions still linger about the family.
The Stauffers’ controversial decision gets renewed attention in the HBO original documentary series “An Update On Our Family,” whose title is taken from the couple’s infamous since-deleted video of the same name. The three-part docuseries is also inspired by a New York magazine article by Caitlin Moscatello.
The Ohio-based vlogger parents didn’t participate in the docuseries, but James regularly posts about his car detailing business on his Stauffer Garage YouTube channel and Instagram account.
Here’s what we know about where Huxley is now.
Myka and James Stauffer adopted Huxley, then 2 and a half years old, from China in 2017
The parents of four other children kept their followers updated on their adoption process through YouTube vlogs. After welcoming Huxley into their home, the Stauffers shared his progress as he adjusted to his new life and family.
Their channel swelled to 700,000 subscribers, videos about Huxley were monetized, and they maintained sponsorship deals with brands.
But in 2020, fans noticed that Huxley was absent from their social media content, prompting questions and concerns about what happened to him.
In May of that year, Myka and James revealed that they had placed Huxley in a new home to better support his needs.
Little is known about Huxley’s life since he was placed in a new home in 2020
In the since-deleted video that sparked backlash, the couple said that they only learned after bringing Huxley home that he had special needs that they hadn’t been told about.
The Stauffers said that Huxley received multiple assessments and evaluations from medical professionals who agreed that he needed a home better equipped to support him.
The couple also said that they were intentionally vague about Huxley’s situation because they “didn’t want to mess up anything” as he was meeting and spending time with new people so he could find his “forever family.”
Myka said that the adoption agency had placed Huxley with a family it thought was “the perfect match.” People magazine reported that Huxley has since been renamed.
“He is thriving,” Myka said in the video. “He is very happy. He’s doing really well. And his new mommy has medical-professional training, and it is a very good fit.”
In an Instagram post shared in June 2020, Myka apologized for the “confusion” and “pain” she caused and admitted she was unprepared to properly parent Huxley.
“We love Huxley and know that this was the right decision for him and his future. Praying that Huxley only has the best future in the entire world,” she wrote.
The first episode of “An Update On Our Family” is streaming on Max. The remaining episodes will be released weekly through January 29.
