It’s a common experience in the digital age: the sting of realizing someone, especially an online friend, has unfollowed or unfriended you on social media. One moment you’re engaging with their content, the next, their posts vanish from your feed, leaving you wondering what went wrong. This feeling is amplified when it involves popular internet figures. The online world buzzed recently when it was noticed that popular YouTuber Jacksepticeye had unfollowed fellow creator Markiplier on Twitter (now X). This action sent ripples through their fanbases, prompting widespread speculation. Why Did Jacksepticeye Unfollow Markiplier? Let’s delve into what we know about this sudden social media separation.
Who are Jacksepticeye and Markiplier?
For those unfamiliar, Jacksepticeye, real name Seán William McLoughlin, and Markiplier, or Mark Edward Fischbach, are titans of the YouTube gaming community. Jacksepticeye, boasting over 30 million subscribers, is renowned for his energetic “Let’s Play” videos and comedic personality. His content often features a wide range of games, from indie titles to AAA blockbusters, all delivered with his signature enthusiasm.
Markiplier commands an even larger audience, exceeding 36 million subscribers, and is particularly known for his playthroughs of horror games, often punctuated by his dramatic reactions and engaging commentary. Beyond gaming, Markiplier has expanded his content to include sketch comedy, charity live streams, and even directing and producing his own projects.
Their paths have been intertwined for years. Jacksepticeye and Markiplier are not just contemporaries; they are long-time collaborators and friends. They’ve frequently appeared in each other’s videos, participated in collaborative projects, and in 2018, they co-founded the clothing brand Cloak, showcasing a continued working relationship. This close association is why the recent unfollowing incident on Twitter has sparked so much curiosity and concern.
The Twitter Unfollow and Fan Reactions
The news of Jacksepticeye unfollowing Markiplier on Twitter spread quickly across social media platforms. Adding fuel to the fire, reports also indicated that Jacksepticeye had unfollowed the Cloak brand account. This double unfollow sent fans into a frenzy of speculation.
On platforms like TikTok and Reddit, fans expressed their shock and disappointment. The r/Markiplier subreddit became a hub for discussion, with users theorizing about potential “beef” or conflict between the two YouTubers. One Reddit user commented that unfollowing someone, especially on Twitter, is an active step, suggesting a deliberate decision rather than an accidental click. TikTok videos also emerged, capturing the collective surprise and sadness of fans grappling with the implications of the unfollow.
The reactions highlight the parasocial relationships that viewers often develop with online personalities. For many fans, Jacksepticeye and Markiplier represent more than just content creators; they are figures they’ve grown to admire and feel connected to through years of watching their videos and online interactions. Therefore, any perceived rift between them feels personal to their dedicated audience.
Possible Reasons Behind the Unfollow
Despite the flurry of online discussion, neither Jacksepticeye nor Markiplier has publicly addressed the unfollowing incident. In the absence of official statements, fans have put forth various theories to explain the situation, ranging from dramatic feuds to simple drifting apart.
One prevailing theory suggests that there may not be any significant drama at all. Some fans speculate that the two creators may have simply grown apart over time. As one Redditor pointed out, their collaborations and public interactions have become less frequent in recent years. Life changes, priorities shift, and friendships can naturally evolve, even between close collaborators.
Another theory, and perhaps a more sensitive one, points to the intense fan shipping that has surrounded Jacksepticeye and Markiplier for years. The “Septiplier” ship, which romantically paired the two friends, became a prominent part of their online presence, often fueled by fanfiction, fan art, and speculation. While initially embraced as a lighthearted joke by some, it reportedly became a source of discomfort for at least one of them.
Jacksepticeye himself addressed his unease with the “Septiplier” ship in a 2023 interview on the Sad Boyz podcast. He described the early days of their friendship as a “bromance” that “went way too far” with the romantic shipping. This past statement lends credence to the theory that the pressure and intensity of the fan ship might have contributed to a distance between them, potentially culminating in the social media unfollow.
Interestingly, as of the latest updates, Markiplier still follows Jacksepticeye on Twitter. This detail adds another layer of complexity to the situation, suggesting that if there was a deliberate decision to unfollow, it might have originated from Jacksepticeye’s side.
In conclusion, while the exact reason why Jacksepticeye unfollowed Markiplier remains unconfirmed, the incident has undoubtedly stirred discussion and speculation within their respective fan communities. Whether it’s a sign of a deeper issue or simply a consequence of evolving online relationships and personal boundaries, the unfollow serves as a reminder that even the most public online friendships are subject to the complexities of real-life dynamics.
