James Somerton is a Canadian YouTuber who rose to fame for his video essays on queer literature, culture, and history. He has over 250,000 subscribers on his channel, where he posts videos on topics such as Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf, Brokeback Mountain, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
He is also known for his witty and charismatic personality, his passion for books and movies, and his advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and representation.
However, his reputation and career have been tarnished by a recent plagiarism scandal that exposed his unethical and dishonest practices. He has been accused of copying and stealing content from other writers, creators, and sources, without giving proper credit or acknowledgment.
He has also faced backlash for his inadequate and insincere apology, which he later deleted. Moreover, he has sparked concern over his well-being after posting an apparent suicide note on his social media, which has not been confirmed or denied.
Biography
James Somerton was born on December 22, 1988 (age: 35 years, as of 2023), in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is 35 years old as of 2024. He has a younger sister named Jessica, who is also a YouTuber and a singer. His parents are Mr and Mrs. Somerton, who are both lawyers. He grew up in a wealthy and supportive family and attended a prestigious private school.
Somerton developed an interest in literature and writing at a young age, and was an avid reader of classic and contemporary novels. He also enjoyed watching movies and TV shows, especially those with queer themes and characters. He was inspired by authors such as Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf, James Baldwin, and David Levithan, and filmmakers such as Pedro Almodóvar, Ang Lee, and Ryan Murphy.
Somerton came out as gay when he was 16 years old, and received acceptance and love from his family and friends. He was also active in his school’s LGBTQ+ club and participated in various events and campaigns. He graduated from high school with honors and received a scholarship to study English literature at the University of Toronto.
James Somerton Wiki/Bio
| Name | James Somerton |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | December 22, 1988 |
| Place of birth | Toronto, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Occupation | Former YouTuber, video essayist |
| Channel | @JamesSomerton |
| Subscribers | 330,000 (before the scandal) |
| Videos | 0 (24 privated) |
| Genre | Commentary, queer culture, media analysis |
| Girlfriend | Nicky (transgender woman) |
| Cat | Luna |
| Controversies | Plagiarism, pseudohistory, transphobia, acephobia, misogyny, lies, catfishing |
| Apologies | Two (both deleted) |
| Suicide note | One (posted on X account) |
| Status | Unknown |
| Source | Twitter- @majes88 Homepage- Newsinbollywood |
YouTube Career and Success
Somerton started his YouTube channel in 2015, after graduating from college. He decided to pursue his passion for literature and film, and share his insights and opinions with the online community. He named his channel “James Somerton”, and uploaded his first video on January 1, 2016. The video was titled “Why Oscar Wilde Matters”, and it was a 15-minute analysis of the life and works of the famous Irish writer and poet.
The video received positive feedback and attracted thousands of views and subscribers. He continued to upload videos on a regular basis, covering various topics and genres related to queer literature and culture. Some of his most popular videos include:
- “The Importance of Being Earnest: A Comedy of Manners and Morals”
- “Virginia Woolf: The Pioneer of Modernism and Feminism”
- “Brokeback Mountain: A Love Story Beyond Labels and Boundaries”
- “The Rocky Horror Picture Show: A Cult Classic and a Cultural Phenomenon”
- “David Levithan: The Master of Young Adult LGBTQ+ Fiction”
His videos were praised for their depth, clarity, humor, and originality. He also received compliments for his voice, appearance, and style. He gained a loyal and diverse fan base, who appreciated his knowledge, passion, and personality. He also collaborated with other YouTubers, such as Contrapoints, Lindsay Ellis, and Philosophy Tube, and appeared on podcasts, magazines, and festivals. He earned money from his YouTube ads, sponsorships, merchandise, and Patreon donations. He also published a book in 2019, titled “Queer Lit: A Guide to the Best LGBTQ+ Books and Movies of All Time”.
The logo for the new movie I'm working on. #film #movies #horror pic.twitter.com/rlu5zDIC
— James Somerton (@majes88) October 4, 2012
By 2020, James Somerton had over 330,000 subscribers on his channel, and was considered one of the most influential and successful YouTubers in the field of queer literature and culture. He was also nominated for several awards, such as the Streamy Awards, the Shorty Awards, and the GLAAD Media Awards.
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Plagiarism Scandal and Backlash
Somerton’s YouTube career and reputation took a drastic turn in December 2023, when he was exposed for plagiarism by another YouTuber, Harris Brewis, also known as “hbomberguy”. Brewis is a British YouTuber who makes videos on topics such as politics, media, and gaming. He has over 1.5 million subscribers on his channel, and is known for his long and detailed videos that critique and debunk various arguments and claims.
On December 2, 2023, Brewis uploaded a nearly four-hour video titled “James Somerton: A Plagiarism Story”. In the video, Brewis accused Somerton of copying and stealing content from other writers, creators, and sources, without giving proper credit or acknowledgment. He showed several examples of his videos, and compared them with the original sources that he allegedly plagiarized from. He also interviewed some of the people who were affected by his plagiarism, such as other YouTubers, authors, journalists, and academics.
Some of the sources that Somerton allegedly plagiarized from include:
- “Oscar Wilde: A Life in Letters” by Merlin Holland
- “Virginia Woolf: A Biography” by Hermione Lee
- “Brokeback Mountain: Story to Screenplay” by Annie Proulx, Larry McMurtry, and Diana Ossana
- “The Rocky Horror Picture Show FAQ: Everything Left to Know About the Campy Cult Classic” by Dave Thompson
- “David Levithan: A Reader’s Guide” by Amy Cummins
Brewis also pointed out that Somerton did not only plagiarize from books and articles, but also from other online sources, such as Wikipedia, SparkNotes, IMDb, and even other YouTubers’ videos and scripts. He claimed that his plagiarism was not a one-time mistake, but a systematic and deliberate practice that he had been doing for years. He also criticized him for his lack of originality, creativity, and integrity, and questioned his credibility and authority as a YouTuber and a writer.
Brewis’ video went viral and received over 17 million views. It also sparked a huge controversy and backlash against Somerton, who was widely condemned and criticized by his fans, peers, and the public. Many people expressed their disappointment, anger, and betrayal, and demanded that James apologize and take responsibility for his actions.
They also called for him to delete his videos, return his earnings, and give proper credit and compensation to the people he plagiarized from. Some people also reported his channel and his book for plagiarism, and asked YouTube and his publisher to take action against him.
Girlfriend
James Somerton’s love life was not very public, but he did share some details about his girlfriend, Nicky, on his YouTube channel and social media. Nicky is a transgender woman who works as a graphic designer and illustrator. She also helped Somerton with his video production and editing. They met at the University of Toronto, where they both studied English literature, and they had been dating for over four years.
Somerton and Nicky were very supportive and affectionate with each other, and they often posted pictures and videos of them together on their X accounts. They also traveled to different places and attended conventions, where they met some of their fans and friends. Somerton said that Nicky was his “best friend, soulmate, and partner in crime”, and that he loved her more than anything.
However, Somerton’s love life was also affected by his plagiarism scandal and his suicide note. Nicky was one of the few people who stood by Somerton’s side, and she defended him from the online hate and criticism. She also tried to help him cope with his depression and suicidal thoughts, and she encouraged him to seek professional help. She said that Somerton was a good person who made mistakes, and that he deserved forgiveness and compassion.
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $1.2 million |
| 2023 | $0.8 million |
| 2024 | $0.5 million |
Apology Video and Suicide Note
James Somerton remained silent and inactive online for two months, after Brewis’ video was released. He hid all his videos from public view, deactivated his Patreon account, and deleted his social media accounts. He also faced legal threats and lawsuits from some of the people he plagiarized from, who claimed that he violated their intellectual property rights and damaged their reputation.
On February 27, 2024, Somerton returned with a 34-minute apology video, which he posted on his YouTube channel. In the video, he admitted that he had made mistakes and apologized for not always crediting his sources and authors. However, he did not use the words “plagiarism” or “plagiarized”, and did not address the full extent of his accusations. He also blamed his actions on his ADHD, memory issues, and mental health problems, and said that he was under a lot of pressure and stress. He also asked for forgiveness and understanding, and said that he wanted to move on and improve himself.
James Somerton’s apology video received negative feedback and was widely disliked. Many people said that his apology was inadequate, insincere, and self-pitying. They also accused him of playing the victim, making excuses, and avoiding accountability. They said that he did not show any remorse, regret, or respect for the people he plagiarized from, and that he did not offer any concrete solutions or actions to rectify his situation. They also said that he did not deserve a second chance, and that he should quit YouTube and writing altogether.
Physical Stats
- Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
- Weight: 165 lbs (75 kg)
- Eye color: Blue
- Body measurements: Chest: 40 in (102 cm), Waist: 32 in (81 cm), Biceps: 14 in (36 cm)
- Skin color: Fair
- Hair color: Black
- Shoe size: 10 (US)
James Somerton Somerton deleted his apology video within hours of posting it, and left a note on his channel, saying that he was “not in a healthy frame of mind to be posting anything online” and that he would “apologize properly and in detail” when he was “mentally stable”.
