Jeff Wittek

Wittek was born and grew up in Staten Island, New York, where he attended Susan E. Wagner High School.{{Cite web|date=2021-04-21|first=Victoria |last=Priola |title=Jeff Wittek launches 'tell-all' YouTube docuseries about meeting David Dobrik, growing up on Staten Island|url=https://www.silive.com/entertainment/2021/04/jeff-wittek-launches-tell-all-youtube-docuseries-about-meeting-david-dobrik-growing-up-on-staten-island.html|access-date=2021-05-03|website=silive}} As a teenager Wittek worked in a local barbershop, out of which he also sold drugs at the same time, and was arrested multiple times for selling marijuana.{{Cite web|last=Twersky|first=Carolyn|date=2021-05-05|title=Jeff Wittek Reveals There Was a Time He Thought David Dobrik Hurt Him 'On Purpose'|url=https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/a36341164/jeff-wittek-thought-david-dobrik-hurt-him-on-purpose/|access-date=2021-05-07|website=Seventeen}} He continued selling drugs after relocating to Miami, Florida, and was eventually arrested in 2011 at age 21 for possession of marijuana, cocaine, and a controlled substance, as well as illegal drug trafficking.{{Cite web|last=Nambiar|first=Prerna|date=2021-03-22|title=Why did Jeff Wittek go to jail? A look back at his arrest|url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/03/22/why-did-jeff-wittek-go-to-jail-a-look-back-at-his-arrest/|access-date=2021-05-07|website=HITC}} The charges were dismissed for lack of an apparent search warrant, after which he moved to Los Angeles.

Jeff made an appearance on Bad Girls Club in multiple episodes of Season 5.{{Citation|title=Catya vs. Jeff Wittek - Bad Girls Club (Season 5)| date=September 5, 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sx800IVa1U|language=en|access-date=2022-01-08}} He was introduced as the crush of one of the contestants, Erica.

Wittek started his YouTube account in 2011, but first became known for the Tumblr account he started in 2012, Behind the Cuts, where he styled the hair of celebrities like Mac Miller and Pauly D. He also posted hair styling and party pictures on Instagram.

Wittek's fame increased after his 2014 move to 1600 Vine, a Hollywood apartment building known for housing internet celebrities like Jake Paul and Lele Pons.{{Cite web|last=Barragan|first=Bianca|date=2018-01-02|title=The Hollywood building where social media stars live|url=https://la.curbed.com/2018/1/2/16842074/vine-internet-stars-apartments-jake-logan-paul|access-date=2021-05-03|website=Curbed LA}} There he met the Vlog Squad.

For three years starting in 2015, he dated actress Cierra Ramirez.{{Cite web|title=Vlog Squad Member Jeff Wittek Dated Actress Cierra Ramirez for Three Years|url=https://www.distractify.com/p/jeff-wittek-ex-girlfriend|access-date=2021-05-03|website=Distractify|date=September 29, 2020 }}

He started filming episodes for his online talk show Jeff's Barbershop in 2019, and gained enough popularity to become a brand ambassador for Old Spice.{{Cite web|first=Victoria |last=Priola|date=2020-03-04|title=Is Staten Island native Jeff Wittek the new face of Old Spice?|url=https://www.silive.com/entertainment/2020/03/is-staten-island-native-jeff-wittek-the-new-face-of-old-spice.html|access-date=2021-05-03|website=silive}}

{{tone |section |date=June 2024}}

In June 2020, Jeff Wittek was injured in Utah while filming a stunt with David Dobrik and the Vlog Squad.{{Cite web|last=Dodgson|first=Lindsay|title=Vlog Squad member Jeff Wittek revealed he injured his eye while swinging from an excavator David Dobrik was controlling|url=https://www.insider.com/jeff-wittek-eye-injury-david-dobrik-documentary-2021-4|access-date=2021-05-03|website=Insider}}{{Cite web|first=Mike |last=Vulpo|title=YouTuber Jeff Wittek Shares Shocking Details on How David Dobrik Caused His Near-Fatal Accident|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/youtuber-jeff-wittek-shares-shocking-194923593.html|date=April 22, 2021 |access-date=2021-05-07|website=www.yahoo.com}} Dobrik was operating an excavator in a shallow lake while Wittek swung from a rope attached to the end of the excavator's arm. Dobrik spun the rope too fast and then abruptly stopped,{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggCA6hY2PCQ | title=Jeff wittek excavator footage #justiceforjeff | website=YouTube | date=April 22, 2021 }} causing Wittek to hit the excavator and fall into the water upside down with his foot stuck in the rope. Wittek's injuries included a fractured skull, a fractured left eye socket, a broken hip and foot, and torn ligaments in his leg. Despite these injuries, Wittek continued filming his series, Jeff's Barbershop, without addressing them publicly.

In April 2021, Wittek released a docuseries titled Don't Try This at Home, comprising five episodes in which he explained the circumstances surrounding the injury and described his recovery. He also discussed the impact on his relationship with Dobrik.{{Cite web|first1=A.F. |last1=Gonzalez |first2=Katie |last2=Campione |title=Vlogger Jeff Wittek Opens Up About Accident Involving David Dobrik That Almost Killed Him|url=https://people.com/tv/vlogger-jeff-wittek-opens-up-about-accident-involving-david-dobrik-that-almost-killed-him/|date=April 22, 2021 |access-date=2021-05-07|website=People.com}}{{Cite web |first=Justin |last=Vallejo |date=2021-04-27 |title=YouTuber Jeff Wittek says David Dobrik stunt 'made me resent him'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/jeff-wittek-david-dobrik-stunt-b1838506.html|access-date=2021-05-03|website=The Independent}}{{Cite web|first=Georgina |last=Smith|date=2021-05-01|title=David Dobrik explains his side of life-threatening Jeff Wittek vlog accident|url=https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/david-dobrik-explains-his-side-of-life-threatening-jeff-wittek-vlog-accident-1564681/|access-date=2021-05-03|website=Dexerto}} After releasing the first episode, Wittek pivoted to Patreon because the footage of his injuries was deemed too graphic for YouTube. His Patreon account gained 37,000 followers in the first 10 days, making him one of the most-followed creators on that platform and the highest-paid creator of 18+ content on the platform at the time.{{cite web |title=Jeff Wittek's Patreon Account Gets 37,000 Supporters In 10 Days With Docuseries Rollout. That's At Least $2.2 Million In Annual Revenue. |date=April 29, 2021 |last=Weiss |first=Geoff |website=tubefilter |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2021/04/29/jeff-wittek-patreon-injury-vlog-squad-dobrik-money/ |access-date=August 20, 2021}}{{cite web |title=Jeff Wittek responded to claims that his eye injury documentary was a 'cash grab,' joking 'I lost my vision but 60Gs is 60Gs' |date=May 20, 2021 |last=Mendez II |first=Moises |website=Insider |url=https://www.insider.com/jeff-wittek-patreon-face-accident-free-uncensored-cash-grab-2021-5 |access-date=August 20, 2021}}

In March 2022, it was revealed in leaked footage from an upcoming documentary by fellow YouTuber Casey Neistat and in an episode of Dobrik's Views podcast that David Dobrik was evidently blaming Jeff Wittek for the accident. Dobrik allegedly stated that the accident involving the excavator was the idea of Wittek and that he should be taking more responsibility,{{Citation |title=DISCUSSING WHAT HAPPENED | date=March 8, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRMQg2dEo_0 |language=en |access-date=2022-03-15}} which Wittek quickly denied in a response video on the JEFF FM YouTube channel.{{Citation |title=DISCUSSING WHAT *REALLY* HAPPENED {{!}} JEFF FM {{!}} Ep. 40 | date=March 9, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4HK4E_51qc |language=en |access-date=2022-03-15}} Within his response, Wittek asserted he refused to appear on an episode of Dobrik's Views podcast, claiming that Dobrik would attempt to manipulate his words and editing into blaming Wittek for his physical and emotional trauma, along with a sense of discomfort around the individual that caused such suffering.{{Dubious|date=March 2022}}

In June 2022, it was revealed that Dobrik was being sued by Jeff Wittek in relation to the 2020 accident. The lawsuit does not detail specifics for the myriad of injuries Wittek experienced, although in his 2021 docuseries, it was heavily mentioned that he faced the possibility of losing his eye, which is included in the suit.{{Cite magazine |date=2022-06-23 |title=YouTuber David Dobrik Sued for $10 Million Over Excavator Stunt That Resulted in Life-Threatening Injuries |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/06/david-dobrik-jeff-wittek-lawsuit-youtube-excavator-stunt-life-threatening-injuries-10-million-dollars-damages |access-date=2022-10-25 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Mohammed |first=Leyla |title=David Dobrik Is Being Sued By Jeff Wittek Over The Near-Fatal Excavator Stunt That Almost Caused Him To Lose An Eye |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/leylamohammed/david-dobrik-sued-10-million-jeff-wittek-excavator-stunt |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=BuzzFeed News |date=June 24, 2022 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=David Dobrik Sued for $10 Million by Jeff Wittek Over Stunt Injury {{!}} Entertainment Tonight |url=https://www.etonline.com/david-dobrik-sued-for-10-million-by-jeff-wittek-over-stunt-injury-186261 |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=www.etonline.com |date=June 23, 2022 |language=en-US}} This is after claiming in February 2022 that he "almost died" the day of the accident.{{Cite web |title=YouTuber Jeff Wittek No Longer Speaks to Former Friend David Dobrik |url=https://people.com/tv/youtuber-jeff-wittek-reveals-he-doesnt-speak-to-david-dobrik-done-being-fake-friends/ |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}} Dobrik responded by asserting that Wittek knew the risks of the stunt and requested the judge dismiss the complaint.{{Cite web |title=David Dobrik Says YouTuber Jeff Wittek Knew Excavator Stunt Gone Wrong Was Risky |url=https://www.tmz.com/2022/09/25/david-dobrik-excavator-stunt-lawsuit-jeff-wittek/ |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=TMZ |date=September 25, 2022 |language=en}}

In 2024, Wittek starred in the third season of the H3 Podcast series The Bach3lor, in search of finding someone to settle down with.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPdgcyuob2g |title=Jeff Wittek Is Your Bach3lor - Episode #1 - OTR #104 |language=en |access-date=2024-03-28 |via=www.youtube.com}} Spanning five episodes, Wittek ultimately chose Australian contestant, Verica ({{IPA|sh|ʋêrit͡sa|pron}}) from Brisbane, Queensland, from twenty bachlorettes.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Lm16M0pafY |title=The BacH3lor Ep. #5 - A Beach Picnic With Verica (Ft. Jeff Wittek) |language=en |access-date=2024-03-28 |via=www.youtube.com}}

The YouTube Streamy Awards are an award show presented by Tubefilter which recognizes and honors excellence in online video, including directing, acting, producing, and writing. The formal ceremony at which the awards are presented takes place in Los Angeles, California.{{cite news |date=December 19, 2008 |title=The Streamy Awards will recognize the best online T |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2008/12/the-streamy-awa.html}}

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Category:21st-century American comedians

Category:21st-century American male actors

Category:1989 births

Category:American comedy podcasters

Category:American comedy YouTubers

Category:Living people

Category:Susan E. Wagner High School alumni

Category:American YouTube vloggers

Category:YouTubers from Staten Island

Category:American male comedians

Category:Comedians from Staten Island