Hbomberguy

{{Primary sources|section|date=February 2025}}

Harry Brewis{{cite web |last=Brewis |first=Harry |date=16 September 2016 |title=Defective Products: Postal, Hatred, and For-Profit Controversy |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/defective-products-postal-hatred-and-for-profit-co |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723041256/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/09/defective-products-postal-hatred-and-for-profit-co.html |archive-date=23 July 2017 |access-date=20 January 2019 |work=Paste }}{{Cite web |last=Alter |first=Rebecca |date=2023-12-22 |title=Hbomberguy Didn't Want to Make That 4-Hour Plagiarism Video |url=https://www.vulture.com/2023/12/hbomberguy-interview-james-somerton-plagiarism.html |access-date=2023-12-26 |website=Vulture |language=en}} was born on 19 September 1992 in West Yorkshire, England.{{cite web |last1=Brewis |first1=Harry |title=Mega64 Podcast 672 – Interview With @hbomberguy |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYXHX1lC0M8 |website=YouTube |access-date=17 January 2023 |date=January 17, 2023 |time=24:33 |quote=I can use this as a source if I say I was born on September 19th 1992 |archive-date=17 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117201245/https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1482&v=AYXHX1lC0M8&feature=youtu.be |url-status=live }}{{cite AV media |people=Hbomberguy |date=5 March 2022 |title=Deus Ex: Human Revolution is FINE, And Here's Why |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgJazjz9ZsA |access-date=6 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305213443/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgJazjz9ZsA |archive-date=5 March 2022 |format= |time=2:04:03 |url-status=live |via=YouTube |oclc= |quote=Fun fact, I was born and raised in West Yorkshire}} He studied English literature with a focus on creative writing at Aberystwyth University.{{cite tweet |user=hbomberguy |number=991716986970427395 |title=you went to aberystwyth uni??? i might be going there this year- what did you study? — I went to study english lit with creative writing, and changed my course once I got there to engl... |first=Harry Michael |last=Brewis |access-date=14 April 2022 |archive-date=14 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414184629/https://twitter.com/hbomberguy/status/991716986970427395?lang=en-GB |url-status=live}} Before focusing on his own YouTube channel full time, Brewis worked as an information technology engineer,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYXkHIsslD0 |title=Soy Boy Diet Aftermath |date=12 February 2018 |last=Brewis |first=Harry |language=en |time=1:00 |access-date=2023-12-24 |quote=Back when I was an IT engineer}} then as an animator for The School of Life's YouTube channel.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-qccQbgH6I |title=Hbomberguy's 100K Q&A! |date=21 October 2017 |last=Brewis |first=Harry |language=en |time=19:29 |access-date=2024-01-05 |quote=I started doing animations for the School of Life on their YouTube channel}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCTzbc76WXY |title=HISTORY OF IDEAS – Manners |date=26 February 2016 |last=The School of Life |language=en |access-date=2024-01-05 |quote=Produced in collaboration with ... Harry Brewis}}

Brewis started the Hbomberguy YouTube channel on 28 May 2006.{{Cite web |title=hbomberguy – About |url=https://www.youtube.com/@hbomberguy/about |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930101018/https://www.youtube.com/@hbomberguy/about |archive-date=30 September 2023 |access-date=22 September 2023 |publisher=YouTube}} {{As of|2024|January}}, the channel has over 1.7 million subscribers. He also uploads his videos on the online streaming service Nebula.{{Cite web |last=Minor |first=Jordan |date=2022-12-06 |title=Nebula Review |url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/nebula-streaming |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209194010/https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/nebula-streaming |archive-date=9 December 2022 |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=PC Magazine |language=en-US}}

Brewis' videos often take the format of mini-documentaries, with him talking directly to the camera on a particular topic interspersed with comedic sketches and gags.{{Cite journal |last=Kuznetsov |first=Dmitry |last2=Ismangil |first2=Milan |date=2020 |title=YouTube as Praxis? On BreadTube and the Digital Propagation of Socialist Thought |journal=TripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=204–218 |doi=10.31269/triplec.v18i1.1128 |issn=1726-670X |doi-access=free}} He consults with experts and fact-checkers for his videos to ensure their factual accuracy.{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=Nicholas |date=2021-12-21 |title=How YouTubers got clever: the rise of the video essay |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/youtubers-got-clever-rise-video-essay/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118184109/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/youtubers-got-clever-rise-video-essay/ |archive-date=18 November 2022 |access-date=2022-11-18 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}} Some of the most popular videos on his channel are his A Measured Response series, which features Brewis critiquing figures such as flat Earth conspiracy theorists, pickup artists, anti-vaxxers, and content creators who believe soy makes men feminine and use the term soy boy. Due to his videos debunking right-wing and alt-right ideas, Brewis has commonly been described as a part of BreadTube, an informal network of left-leaning YouTubers;{{Cite journal |last=Sylvia |first=J. J. |last2=Moody |first2=Kyle |date=2022 |title=BreadTube Rising: How Modern Creators Use Cultural Formats to Spread Countercultural Ideology |url=https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/clcweb/vol24/iss1/11 |journal=CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture |volume=24 |issue=1 |doi=10.7771/1481-4374.4291 |issn=1481-4374 |s2cid=251638800|url-access=subscription |doi-access=free }} however, he does not associate himself with the term.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDp3cB5fHXQ&t=5728s |title=Plagiarism and You(Tube) |date=2 December 2023 |last=Brewis |first=Harry |language=en |access-date=2023-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205160025/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDp3cB5fHXQ&t=5728s |archive-date=5 December 2023 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}} Like other YouTube channels under the BreadTube label, Brewis' political content mirrors the presentation of popular non-political content creators such as pop-culture essayists and gaming YouTubers.

Along with his political analysis and Measured Response series, Brewis has been producing long-form media reviews and video essays on a number of topics, such as television, film, internet culture and video games.{{Cite web |last=McMullen |first=Chris |date=2021-06-15 |title=Fallout 76 Is at Its Best When You Don't Know Where You're Going |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/fallout-76-is-at-its-best-when-you-dont-know-where-youre-going/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105001010/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/fallout-76-is-at-its-best-when-you-dont-know-where-youre-going/ |archive-date=5 November 2022 |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=The Escapist |language=en-US}} In July 2020, Brewis released a video criticising the American web series RWBY. Prior to its release, Brewis attempted to upload the video and found it automatically blocked by YouTube's Content ID system. Brewis opted to extensively re-edit the video to circumvent this automated detection and hire a lawyer to review the content in order to ensure it complied with fair use prior to publication.{{Cite web |last=Trendacosta |first=Katharine |date=2020-12-22 |title=YouTube's Copyright Filter Is Crushing Video Critique—And It's Getting Worse |url=https://gizmodo.com/youtube-s-copyright-filter-is-crushing-video-critique-a-1845934339 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105002314/https://gizmodo.com/youtube-s-copyright-filter-is-crushing-video-critique-a-1845934339 |archive-date=5 November 2022 |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=Gizmodo |language=en}} In an essay criticising the Content ID system, the Electronic Frontier Foundation highlighted Brewis' difficulty as an example of how they believed Content ID "undermines" the intent of fair use.{{Cite web |last=Trendacosta |first=Katharine |date=2020-12-10 |title=Unfiltered: How YouTube's Content ID Discourages Fair Use and Dictates What We See Online |url=https://www.eff.org/wp/unfiltered-how-youtubes-content-id-discourages-fair-use-and-dictates-what-we-see-online |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105002327/https://www.eff.org/wp/unfiltered-how-youtubes-content-id-discourages-fair-use-and-dictates-what-we-see-online |archive-date=5 November 2022 |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |language=en}}

In November 2022, Brewis published "ROBLOX_OOF.mp3", a video essay which documented many of the high-profile claims that Tommy Tallarico had made concerning his career, including being the creator of the sound effect at the heart of his Roblox legal dispute, his Guinness World Records, and being the first American to work on the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, and concluded many were either exaggerations or knowingly false.{{Cite news |last=Yarwood |first=Jack |date=18 November 2022 |title=New Video Examines The Many Lofty Claims Of Tommy Tallarico |url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2022/11/new-video-examines-the-many-lofty-claims-of-tommy-tallarico |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221120002329/https://www.timeextension.com/news/2022/11/new-video-examines-the-many-lofty-claims-of-tommy-tallarico |archive-date=November 20, 2022 |access-date=22 November 2022 |work=Time Extension}}{{Cite web |last=Bevan |first=Rhiannon |date=2023-02-13 |title=Tommy Tallarico Website Redirects To The Two Hour Video Taking Him Down |url=https://www.thegamer.com/tommy-tallarico-website-hbomberguy-video-oof/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322234837/https://www.thegamer.com/tommy-tallarico-website-hbomberguy-video-oof/ |archive-date=March 22, 2023 |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=TheGamer |language=en}}

From 18 to 21 January 2019, Brewis continually livestreamed to raise money for British transgender charity organisation Mermaids. In this stream, he aimed to complete Donkey Kong 64 while finding all possible collectable items and did so in 57 hours and 48 minutes.{{Cite web |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |date=20 January 2019 |title=How Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wound up on a Donkey Kong 64 Twitch charity stream |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/1/20/18191023/hbomberguy-donkey-kong-64-twitch-stream-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-john-romero-chelsea-manning |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190121082954/https://www.polygon.com/2019/1/20/18191023/hbomberguy-donkey-kong-64-twitch-stream-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-john-romero-chelsea-manning |archive-date=21 January 2019 |access-date=21 January 2019 |website=Polygon}} Mermaids had been designated funding by the British National Lottery, but the funding was withheld and put under review after criticism by comedy writer and anti-transgender activist Graham Linehan and others.{{Cite web |last=W-K |first=Edie |date=20 January 2019 |title=YouTuber smashes $69,420 goal for trans charity Mermaids in non-stop Donkey Kong 64 Stream |url=http://checkpointgaming.net/news/2019/01/youtuber-smashes-69420-goal-trans-charity-mermaids-non-stop-donkey-kong-64-stream/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120124250/http://checkpointgaming.net/news/2019/01/youtuber-smashes-69420-goal-trans-charity-mermaids-non-stop-donkey-kong-64-stream/ |archive-date=20 January 2019 |access-date=20 January 2019 |website=Checkpoint |language=en-AU}} This inspired Brewis to stream in support of the charity.

The livestream featured many notable guests, including U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; activist and whistleblower Chelsea Manning; actress Mara Wilson; journalists Paris Lees and Owen Jones; Adam Ruins Everything creator Adam Conover; author Chuck Tingle; Matt Christman and Virgil Texas of the Chapo Trap House podcast; Donkey Kong 64 composer Grant Kirkhope; NFL athlete Chris Kluwe; game designers Rebecca Heineman, Josh Sawyer, John Romero and Scott Benson; YouTubers Natalie Wynn, Lindsay Ellis, Abigail Thorn and James Stephanie Sterling; as well as the then CEO of Mermaids, Susie Green.{{Cite web |last=Moyse |first=Chris |date=21 January 2019 |title=YouTuber Hbomberguy's Donkey Kong 64 marathon raised over $340,000 for trans youth |url=https://www.destructoid.com/youtuber-hbomberguy-s-donkey-kong-64-marathon-raised-over-340-000-for-trans-youth-539701.phtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422202102/https://www.destructoid.com/youtuber-hbomberguy-s-donkey-kong-64-marathon-raised-over-340-000-for-trans-youth-539701.phtml |archive-date=22 April 2020 |access-date=21 January 2019 |website=Destructoid}}{{Cite news |last=Evans |first=Mel |date=21 January 2019 |title=Hbomberguy ends marathon 57-hour Donkey Kong session after raising $340,000 |url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/21/hbomberguy-ends-marathon-57-hour-donkey-kong-session-raising-340000-charity-8369090/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418215804/https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/21/hbomberguy-ends-marathon-57-hour-donkey-kong-session-raising-340000-charity-8369090/ |archive-date=18 April 2019 |access-date=21 January 2019 |work=Metro}} Colin Mochrie, Neil Gaiman, Cher, Matthew Mercer, Adam Savage, Hidetaka Suehiro and SonicFox tweeted in support of the livestream and the charity.{{Cite web |last=Grosso |first=Robert |date=20 January 2019 |title=Streamer Hbomberguy Raises Over $230,000 for Trans Charity |url=https://techraptor.net/content/streamer-hbomberguy-raises-230000-trans-charity |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121013910/https://techraptor.net/content/streamer-hbomberguy-raises-230000-trans-charity |archive-date=21 January 2019 |access-date=21 January 2019 |website=TechRaptor}}{{Cite tweet |number=1087138734607192064 |user=Swery65 |title=Understanding what I have to do. So share this. RT |first=Hidetaka |last=Suehiro |author-link=Hidetaka Suehiro |date=20 January 2019 |access-date=28 January 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200422202314/https://twitter.com/Swery65/status/1087138734607192064 |archive-date=22 April 2020 |url-status=live}} The livestream began with a goal of {{US$|500|link=yes}}; it quickly passed that goal and several subsequent funding targets.{{Cite web |last=Kent |first=Emma |date=21 January 2019 |title=YouTuber sacrifices sleep to stream Donkey Kong 64, raises $340k for trans kids |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2019-01-21-youtuber-sacrifices-sleep-to-stream-donkey-kong-64-raises-usd300-000-for-trans-kids |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620032827/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2019-01-21-youtuber-sacrifices-sleep-to-stream-donkey-kong-64-raises-usd300-000-for-trans-kids |archive-date=20 June 2019 |access-date=21 January 2019 |website=Eurogamer}} In the first 24 hours, the livestream raised over $100,000. In total, over $347,000 ({{GBP|265,000|link=yes}}) was raised for the charity through the livestream,{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Matt |date=20 January 2019 |title=Hbomberguy raises over $100,000 for Mermaids by playing Donkey Kong 64 for 24 hours |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/community/117524/hbomberguy-raises-over-100000-for-mermaids-by-playing-donkey-kong-64-for-24-hours/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418131337/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/community/117524/hbomberguy-raises-over-100000-for-mermaids-by-playing-donkey-kong-64-for-24-hours/ |archive-date=18 April 2019 |access-date=21 January 2019 |website=Gay Times}}{{Cite news |last= |date=22 January 2019 |title=Gamer Hbomberguy hands funding row charity Donkey Kong boost |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-46961883 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711180302/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-46961883 |archive-date=11 July 2019 |access-date=23 January 2019 |work=BBC News}} with over 659,000 people watching the stream.

The livestream garnered attention and praise.{{Cite web |last=Sheehan |first=Gavin |date=21 January 2019 |title=Hbomberguy Raises Over $340k for Transgender Youth During Twitch Stream |url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/01/21/hbomberguy-raises-over-340k-for-transgender-youth-during-twitch-stream/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418221108/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/01/21/hbomberguy-raises-over-340k-for-transgender-youth-during-twitch-stream/ |archive-date=18 April 2019 |access-date=21 January 2019 |website=Bleeding Cool}} The Guardian called it "an antidote to the worst of gaming culture",{{Cite news |last=Hawking |first=Tom |date=22 January 2019 |title=How a 57-hour Donkey Kong game struck a blow against online toxicity |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2019/jan/22/how-a-57-hour-donkey-kong-twitch-stream-struck-a-blow-against-gamergate |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718195841/https://www.theguardian.com/games/2019/jan/22/how-a-57-hour-donkey-kong-twitch-stream-struck-a-blow-against-gamergate |archive-date=18 July 2019 |access-date=22 January 2019 |work=The Guardian}} and it was praised in a motion lodged in the Scottish Parliament by Green Party co-convenor Patrick Harvie.{{Cite report |url=https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/votes-and-motions/votes-and-motions-search/S5M-15504 |title=Online Gamer, Harry Brewis, Fundraising for Mermaids UK |last=Harvie |first=Patrick |date=21 January 2019 |id=Motion S5M-15504 |access-date=23 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123223419/http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&ReferenceNumbers=S5M-15504 |archive-date=23 January 2019 |url-status=live |work=Scottish Parliament}} In July 2019, the LGBT magazine Attitude recognised the livestream by honoring Brewis with an Attitude Pride Award.{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Steve |date=5 July 2019 |title=Attitude Pride Awards: The gamer who raised hundreds of thousands for an under-fire trans youth charity |url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/sexuality/attitude-pride-awards-the-gamer-who-raised-hundreds-of-thousands-for-an-under-fire-trans-youth-charity-299267/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728144106/https://attitude.co.uk/article/attitude-pride-awards-the-gamer-who-raised-hundreds-of-thousands-for-an-under-fire-trans-youth-charity-1/21320/ |archive-date=28 July 2019 |access-date=28 July 2019 |website=Attitude}} Mermaids thanked Brewis for the livestream on their Twitter account.{{Cite tweet |number=1086538903136464896 |user=Mermaids_Gender |title=We've just woken up to see that @hbomberguy has been playing Donkey Kong all night to raise money for Mermaids and is still playing! So far he's raised a staggering $26,000 and still has hours to go! Thank you 🙏🏻 Thank you 🙏🏻 Thank you 🙏🏻 |author-link=Mermaids (charity) |access-date=20 January 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200422203742/https://twitter.com/Mermaids_Gender/status/1086538903136464896 |archive-date=22 April 2020 |url-status=dead |Mermaids}}{{Cite news |last=Duffy |first=Nick |date=19 January 2019 |title=Gamer raises $160,000 for trans charity Mermaids by playing Donkey Kong non-stop |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/01/19/mermaids-trans-donkey-kong-twitch/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513070401/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/01/19/mermaids-trans-donkey-kong-twitch/ |archive-date=13 May 2019 |access-date=20 January 2019 |work=PinkNews}}{{Cite web |last=Tsjeng |first=Zing |date=21 January 2019 |title=Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Casually Drops in on Twitch Stream for Trans Kids |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-donkey-kong-twitch-stream-transgender-charity/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121224320/https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/evegya/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-donkey-kong-twitch-stream-transgender-charity |archive-date=21 January 2019 |website=Broadly |language=en-US}}

On 2 December 2023, Brewis uploaded a nearly four-hour video essay titled "Plagiarism and You(Tube)", in which he discussed plagiarism and presented accusations and evidence of plagiarism against YouTubers Filip Miucin, Cinemassacre, iilluminaughtii, Internet Historian, and James Somerton.{{Cite news |last=Ohlheiser |first=A. W. |date=7 December 2023 |title=Plagiarism doesn't need AI to thrive online |url=https://www.vox.com/technology/2023/12/7/23991236/youtube-plagiarism-artifical-intelligence |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211163004/https://www.vox.com/technology/2023/12/7/23991236/youtube-plagiarism-artifical-intelligence |archive-date=11 December 2023 |access-date=11 December 2023 |work=Vox Media |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Bailey |first=Jonathan |date=5 December 2023 |title=Responding to Hbomberguy's Plagiarism Video |url=https://www.plagiarismtoday.com/2023/12/05/responding-to-hbomberguys-plagiarism-video/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211163004/https://www.plagiarismtoday.com/2023/12/05/responding-to-hbomberguys-plagiarism-video/ |archive-date=11 December 2023 |access-date=11 December 2023 |work=Plagiarism Today}} The second half of the video focuses exclusively on Somerton, whom Brewis accuses of expansive plagiarism, as well as appropriating content from various other queer writers and content creators.{{Cite web |last=Alter |first=Rebecca |date=2023-12-22 |title=Hbomberguy Didn't Want to Make That 4-Hour Plagiarism Video |url=https://www.vulture.com/2023/12/hbomberguy-interview-james-somerton-plagiarism.html |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=Vulture}}{{Cite web |last=Marshall |first=Cass |date=2023-12-06 |title=Hbomberguy's 4-hour YouTube video about plagiarism set social media abuzz |url=https://www.polygon.com/23989686/hbomberguy-plagarism-youtube-video-james-somerton |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Tenbarge |first=Kat |date=December 21, 2023 |title=A YouTuber was accused of plagiarism. His apology highlighted a larger issue among creators. |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/youtube-creator-james-somerton-plagiarism-accusation-response-rcna130860 |website=NBC News}} The Celluloid Closet, a 1996 film based on the book of the same name by Vito Russo, and Tinker Belles and Evil Queens, a 2000 book by Sean Griffin, were among the works Somerton was accused of plagiarizing, in part or in whole, across at least 26 of his videos.{{Cite web |last=Hansford |first=Amelia |date=2023-12-14 |title=Hbomberguy on James Somerton, plagiarism and queer erasure in THAT viral video essay |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/12/14/hbomberguy-james-somerton-misinformation-queer-erasure/ |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=PinkNews}}

In addition to the plagiarism accusations, another YouTuber, Todd in the Shadows, released a separate video soon after Brewis's where he accused Somerton of regularly lying and spreading misinformation and dubious claims in his videos.

In response, Somerton removed all of his videos from public view and deactivated his Twitter and Patreon accounts.{{Cite news |last=Hansford |first=Amelia |date=December 14, 2023 |title=Hbomberguy on James Somerton, plagiarism and queer erasure in THAT viral video essay |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/12/14/hbomberguy-james-somerton-misinformation-queer-erasure/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214182623/https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/12/14/hbomberguy-james-somerton-misinformation-queer-erasure/ |archive-date=14 December 2023 |access-date=December 14, 2023 |work=PinkNews}}{{Cite news |last=Hansford |first=Amelia |date=December 6, 2023 |title=James Somerton: What has the queer YouTuber been accused of by Hbomberguy? |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/12/06/james-somerton-hbomberguy-plagiarism-claims/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206123205/https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/12/06/james-somerton-hbomberguy-plagiarism-claims/ |archive-date=December 6, 2023 |access-date=December 6, 2023 |work=PinkNews}}{{Cite news |last=Marshall |first=Cass |date=December 6, 2023 |title=Hbomberguy's 4-hour YouTube video about plagiarism set social media abuzz |url=https://www.polygon.com/23989686/hbomberguy-plagarism-youtube-video-james-somerton |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206165527/https://www.polygon.com/23989686/hbomberguy-plagarism-youtube-video-james-somerton |archive-date=December 6, 2023 |access-date=December 6, 2023 |work=Polygon}} He removed the website for his film studio, Telos, which was scrutinised by Brewis for raising funds without producing any films. Somerton released an apology video, which was widely criticised.{{Cite web |last=Ashworth |first=Mack |date=2023-12-22 |title=James Somerton: Apology Video, Plagiarism Response & Patreon Drama Explained |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/guides/news/1454900-james-somerton-apology-video-plagiarism-response-patreon-drama-explained |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=ComingSoon.Net}} In his video, Somerton said he would continue his career, and he re-opened his Patreon account without notifying his patrons. This raised concerns about individuals being charged without their knowledge. Somerton removed the apology video a few hours after it was uploaded and closed his Patreon a second time.{{Cite web |last=Tenbarge |first=Kat |date=2023-12-21 |title=A YouTuber was accused of plagiarism. His apology highlighted a larger issue among creators. |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/youtube-creator-james-somerton-plagiarism-accusation-response-rcna130860 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222005438/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/youtube-creator-james-somerton-plagiarism-accusation-response-rcna130860 |archive-date=22 December 2023 |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=NBC News |language=en}}

Brewis has been praised by critics for his YouTube channel's format and commentary.{{Cite web|url=https://slate.com/culture/2018/12/tv-club-youtube-contrapoints-netflix-puppy-prep.html|title=The TV Club, 2018|last=St. James|first=Emily|date=20 December 2018|website=Slate|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120090146/https://slate.com/culture/2018/12/tv-club-youtube-contrapoints-netflix-puppy-prep.html|archive-date=20 January 2019}}{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Quinn |date=26 April 2018 |title=Six Video Essays You Should Watch |url=https://teneightymagazine.com/2018/04/26/six-video-essays-you-should-watch/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122044415/https://teneightymagazine.com/2018/04/26/six-video-essays-you-should-watch/ |archive-date=22 January 2019 |access-date=21 January 2019 |work=TenEighty Magazine}} His 2017 video on VHS, which was produced in collaboration with Shannon Strucci, was praised by TenEighty Magazine as an excellent "deep-dive" in the topic.{{Cite web |last=Gillard |first=Sam |date=9 October 2017 |title=Video Spotlight: The Power Of VHS |url=https://teneightymagazine.com/2017/10/09/video-spotlight-the-power-of-vhs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006075347/https://teneightymagazine.com/2017/10/09/video-spotlight-the-power-of-vhs/ |archive-date=6 October 2018 |website=TenEighty Magazine}} His video analysis of the Ctrl+Alt+Del comic "Loss" has received critical acclaim: it was selected by Polygon as one of the ten best video essays of 2018 and was nominated three times in the Sight & Sound collection of 2018's most outstanding videographic criticism, with British film critic and filmmaker Charlie Shackleton stating: "The reliably great H. Bomberguy pushed the YouTube video essay into new territory with this Matryoshka doll of an upload: a layered critique of the gaming webcomic Ctrl+Alt+Del, Tommy Wiseau's bad-taste classic The Room and the YouTube video essay itself. To cap it all off, it's a horror movie".{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/12/28/18156334/best-youtube-video-essays-2018-watch|title=The best video essays of 2018|last=Schindel|first=David|date=28 December 2018|website=Polygon|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229224434/https://www.polygon.com/2018/12/28/18156334/best-youtube-video-essays-2018-watch |access-date=4 December 2023 |archive-date=29 December 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/polls-surveys/best-video-essays-2018|title=The best video essays of 2018|date=20 January 2019|editor-last=Verdeure|editor-first=David|website=Sight & Sound|publisher=British Film Institute|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122230450/https://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/polls-surveys/best-video-essays-2018|archive-date=22 January 2019|editor-last2=Trocan|editor-first2=Irina}}

Brewis' Climate Denial: A Measured Response was nominated for Sight & Sound's 2019 list of the best video essays of the year with Shannon Strucci saying: "this is the hardest I have ever laughed at any video essay ... and the humor and energy Harris{{efn|name=harry}} brings to his work without sacrificing sincerity or depth of research is, as far as I am concerned, unparalleled".{{Cite web |date=2020-01-14 |editor-last=Avissar |editor-first=Ariel |editor2-last=DiGravio |editor2-first=Will |editor3-last=Lee |editor3-first=Grace |title=The best video essays of 2019 |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/polls-surveys/best-video-essays-2019 |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=Sight & Sound |publisher=British Film Institute |language=en}}

{{Primary sources|section|date=February 2025}}

Brewis was born and raised in West Yorkshire. Brewis is bisexual{{Cite news |last=Griffin |first=Louise |date=21 January 2019 |title=Hbomberguy hits back at Graham Linehan after Mermaids charity stream: 'Every time you tweet five people donate' |url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/21/hbomberguy-hits-back-at-graham-linehan-after-mermaids-charity-stream-every-time-you-tweet-five-people-donate-8371438/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218145807/https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/21/hbomberguy-hits-back-at-graham-linehan-after-mermaids-charity-stream-every-time-you-tweet-five-people-donate-8371438/ |archive-date=18 December 2021 |access-date=18 December 2021 |work=Metro |quote=As a kid who grew up to be bi}}{{Cite tweet |number=991518592918282240 |user=Hbomberguy |title=mr hbomberguy... i dont mean to step out of bounds but... are you one of us... a fellow... lgbt... — I'm one of those bi men who leans pretty strongly toward women and feels a little bit bad when th... |access-date=4 December 2023}} and an atheist.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbZo4x0NbbI&t=1013s |title=The War on Christmas: A Measured Response |date=December 23, 2020 |last=Brewis |first=Harry |time=16:44 |access-date=February 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915194408/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbZo4x0NbbI&t=1013s |archive-date=15 September 2022 |url-status=live |quote=Since the 2010s, there has been decisively more nonreligious people in Britain than Christians even. Most of these people still celebrate Christian traditions, they're a common part of English culture. I'm an atheist, and I still celebrate Christmas. |via=YouTube}} He is a socialist and supported Jeremy Corbyn in the 2017 United Kingdom general election.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVbC0jASJYA |title=ELECTIONWATCH 2017 |date=2017-06-08 |last=Brewis |first=Harry |language=en |access-date=2024-04-03 |via=YouTube}} Before focusing on YouTube full time, Brewis worked as an IT engineer, then as an animator for The School of Life's YouTube channel.

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{Spoken Wikipedia|date=2023-12-04|EN-Hbomberguy-article.ogg}}

• {{YouTube|user=hbomberguy}}
• {{YouTube|channel=UCIPqOTYW439-5hUz6r3U1fA|link=no|title=H.BurgerGuy}}, Secondary channel for livestreams and follow-up videos
• [https://www.twitch.tv/hbomberguy Hbomberguy's Twitch] on Twitch.tv
• {{IMDb name|10881586}}

Category:Living people

Category:1992 births

Category:Alumni of Aberystwyth University

Category:Bisexual feminists

Category:British Twitch (service) streamers

Category:British anti-fascists

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Category:British bisexual men

Category:English-language YouTube channels

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Category:Labour Party (UK) people

Category:LGBTQ people from Yorkshire

Category:LGBTQ YouTubers

Category:British male feminists

Category:British feminists

Category:YouTubers from Yorkshire

Category:Transgender rights activists

Category:Video essayists

Category:YouTube critics and reviewers

Category:21st-century English LGBTQ people

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Category:People from West Yorkshire

Category:21st-century English people

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