Inside the rise of Nikocado Avocado, the extreme-eating YouTuber whose dramatic meltdowns have led to years of controversy and feuds
Nikocado Avocado is a 29-year-old YouTube star known for extreme eating videos.
The YouTuber has made a name for himself by filming emotionally turbulent videos.
He has been involved in numerous controversies and feuds over his eight years as an influencer.
Nicholas Perry, known as Nikocado Avocado to his over 3.5 million YouTube subscribers across his various channels, has made a name for himself in the extreme-eating vlogger community.
Since 2016, Perry's consumption of entire fast-food menus (often accompanied by his pet parrot) has captured the rapt attention of a YouTube audience. He is known as a mukbanger, someone who posts videos of themselves eating or binging large amounts of food online.
In 2020, the 29-year-old, who used to post a video almost every day, garnered attention for his months-long feud with fellow YouTubers who accused him of abusive behavior during a collaboration video, which he later denied to Insider. Perry's controversial response videos in the wake of the accusation had subscribers — and an entire YouTube community — concerned.
Perry has continued to post wild videos and stunts, building a large platform around his controversies.
In a September 2021 video, Perry said that he had broken three ribs while filming a video and was bedridden, which led to further feuds with other creators, who objected to his use of the term "disabled" following the claim.
In subsequent years, Perry's health has been a the main topic of conversation among his viewership, as he continues to post controversial videos about his weight and eating habits.
Here's what to know about the creator.
Nicholas Perry was born on May 19, 1992, in Ukraine. He said he was adopted shortly thereafter and grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
The vlogger told YouTuber Trisha Paytas that he learned of his adoption early on and struggled to make sense of his biological parents' decision. As a result, he said he acted out and received mental health interventions as a child.
"I was in and out of therapy since I was, like, five," Perry told his fellow mukbanger in a 2019 interview for Paytas' podcast The Dish With Trish.
"I would just, like, always want attention," he said. "I wanted the spotlight."
Perry also told Paytas that he'd been prescribed antidepressants when he was seven years old. Later, as a preteen, he said, he was diagnosed with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder).
Before the YouTube star's online career began, he planned on pursuing music.
On Paytas' podcast, the vlogger opened up about his pre-YouTube career working as a freelance violinist. Living in New York at age 21, Perry had dreams of playing in the pit orchestra for a Broadway show.
While he had the musical talent, he explained, it was difficult to make a living in a city of talented and competitive musicians.
"I was just a small, little fish in a huge sea," he said.
While living in New York, Perry met his husband, Orlin Home.
According to a video Perry posted in 2016, the pair first met in a Facebook group for vegan men.
After several months of communication, the two met up in New York when Home made the trip up from Colombia for the Woodstock fruit festival.
The two began as friends (although Perry arrived for their first meeting wearing a tuxedo to serenade Home) but their relationship evolved after they traveled together in central America, Home said.
Perry began posting YouTube videos in 2014 as a vegan vlogger.
Before he was known for videos of consuming entire fast-food menus, the YouTuber frequently filmed videos about his vegan lifestyle.
Perry posted a video in 2016 explaining why he no longer wanted to be a vegan YouTuber, citing his changing beliefs about consuming animal products and his frustration with the "vegan community."
"What is with vegans?" he asked in the clip, "I'm never 'vegan enough' [for them]."
Years later, Perry opened up to Trisha Paytas about the effect he believes veganism had on his health.
"I had a rotted tooth, a vitamin B-12 deficiency, and I developed hypoglycemia," he told the YouTuber on her podcast. "I don't know if it was directly related to veganism, but I'd never had it before."
After leaving veganism behind, Perry made a name for himself in the mukbang community.
Mukbang videos, first popularized in South Korea in 2010, usually consist of a host eating a large amount of food while communicating with an audience. The word mukbang is a combination of the Korean words for "eating" and "broadcast."
Perry became one of the first American men to partake in the extreme-eating trend, as mukbang videos at the time were dominated by women.
Between his four channels, Nikocado Avocado, Nikocado Avocado 2, More Nikocado, and Nikocado Avocado 3, the YouTuber has over 5.5 million subscribers. His videos on his main channel frequently receive over 1 million views.
Perry's videos received online attention for reasons beyond his food consumption. Subscribers were guaranteed melodrama.
"Junk food has made me crazy. I have episodes of manic where like, everything seems really hard for me, " the YouTuber told Trisha Paytas. "I'm like a tornado."
Perry frequently posts videos with thumbnail images of himself sobbing into trays of food. Some titles include "nobody likes me, i'm done" and "my life is falling apart."
Perry said that he's always been dramatic and chooses to take advantage of his low moments for YouTube success.
"I'm just like 'well, fuck it, everyone already hates me' or 'I'm already dramatic, lemme just grab the camera and film it,'" he explained.
He went on to acknowledge in the podcast that his emotionally turbulent videos generate the highest number of views.
"They like when I'm upset, they like when I'm crying, they like when I'm hyper," he said, adding that he intentionally makes video titles "clickbaity."
Perry's YouTube drama escalated in December 2019 when another mukbanger accused him of abusive behavior.
In a video posted to Perry's channel in December 2019, the YouTuber collaborated with mukbangers Stephanie Soo and Zach Choi. In the clip, the three vloggers joked with each other while consuming a massive quantity of spicy noodles.
Four days after Perry posted the collaboration, Soo posted a video titled "Why I Am Scared Of Nikocado Avocado," in which she described feeling unsafe with Perry in the past and while filming the collaboration. Soo also accused Perry of sending her harassing texts and taking photos from inside her home when she briefly left the room. Within hours, the video received hundreds of thousands of views and has since reached over 14.5 million views.
Perry denied allegations that he was abusive in an email to Insider.
Soo's allegations against Perry inspired a series of increasingly lengthy back-and-forth videos between the two, who produced text messages and video footage to refute each other's claims.
The videos have received millions of views and the comments sections are flooded with support for Soo and disdain for Perry.
"You are such a horrible, toxic person. You deserve none of the success you've had," one commenter wrote on Perry's page.
Amid the deluge of YouTube comments and Reddit speculation about the feud, mukbangers weighed in the controversy.
Mukbanger Bethany Gaskin, known as BLovesLife to her 3.1 million subscribers, posted an hour-long video to her channel in the wake of the feud.
"Just my two cents over homemade chili," she captioned the video, in which she recalled her positive experiences collaborating with both Perry and Soo, but ultimately sided with Soo.
Zach Choi, who joined Perry and Soo for the collaboration video, said in an Instagram story that he had hired legal representation to address the claims Perry made on social media.
"For those of you waiting for a response to @nikocadoavocado continued harassment, I have retained an attorney and he will be handling these matters going forward," he wrote.
Perry denied any legal action being taken against him in an email sent to Insider.
Perry's videos recapping the aftermath of the feud had subscribers concerned for his mental health.
In a January 2020 video titled "We Broke Up," a visibly-distraught Perry blamed the negative comments and YouTube drama for the demise of his relationship with his husband.
"All of your comments over the last month are seeping into his head and he is questioning us as a couple," he said. "And it's all because of YouTube."
In another video titled "Orlin left me, I hate myself, Goodbye youtube & life," one of seven videos Perry uploaded within the week, the YouTuber sobbed while discussing his breakup and his desire to quit vlogging (while consuming vast quantities of Taco Bell).
The comments section of the video quickly filled with subscribers noting the escalation from Perry's typical YouTube theatrics and concern for his mental health.
"This isn't even funny or entertaining anymore," one commenter wrote. "This is just disturbing and weird."
Perry, however, showed no signs of slowing down. Soon after his feud with Soo, the YouTuber declared a new online enemy — and enraged subscribers by forgetting Kobe Bryant's name.
In the video, titled "David dobrik STOLE from me, the truth," Perry called out his newest "enemy": YouTuber David Dobrik. Dobrik's offense? Seemingly, having a Tesla and giving away cars in viral videos, which Perry watched from his iPhone while filming.
"I watched this in bed today," Perry said through tears, "and I broke down. That was supposed to be me."
He went on to accuse Dobrik of "stealing [his] DNA" and "[his] future."
While devouring Panda Express noodles for the camera, Perry brought up the recent death of Kobe Bryant — forgetting the NBA legend's name.
After the video was posted, viewers called for Perry's removal from the platform.
"You should not be allowed to have a platform to promote hate speech and lies," one commenter wrote. "I think it's time for YouTube to take your page Man."
One Ohio-based viewer even created a Change.org petition titled "Remove Nikocado Avocado From YouTube" that received thousands of signatures.
As Perry received more public attention in early 2020, he decided to capitalize on the fame by creating an OnlyFans account.
After taking to Twitter to tease the possibility of parlaying YouTube fame into adult content creation, Perry created an OnlyFans account where subscribers pay $14.99 a month for explicit photos and videos.
Another video in which Perry called himself "Jesus" had viewers concerned again.
In an April 2020 video, titled "Jesus Is Coming Soon, He Spoke To Me," Perry had viewers wondering whether he's simply trolling his subscribers or if the mukbanger is struggling emotionally.
"I'm just here. And I'm just stuck in this mess," Perry said in the 17-minute clip. "It's like I'm trapped."
He went on to cry, rip up paper, reference the Olsen twins, bemoan the color of his Invisalign, and film close-up shots of his face.
"God talked to me in a dream. I saw Jesus and he told me the secrets of the world. God Bless everyone," Perry captioned the video.
In one day, the video received over 60,000 views and thousands of comments from viewers — several of which compared him to fellow mukbanger Trisha Paytas and speculated about his mental health.
"I can't tell if you're pulling a Trisha Paytas or this is a genuine psychosis-like episode," one commenter wrote. "It's so concerning how far Youtubers are from reality."
"This is the first video that actually scared me," another added. "I'm legit scared."
The YouTube star continued to post about his tumultuous relationship with his husband, Orlin.
Perry and his husband have collaborated on multiple videos together. They have uploaded videos with titles like "Breaking Up with Orlin (on camera)," "Catching Orlin with Another Man," and "Our Final Video Together."
During the videos, the two usually put each other down with harmful words, calling each other "fat" or hitting one another.
"Y'all I feel like a third wheel in this toxic relationship," one commenter said.
The constant roasting between the two has led other YouTube channels to make compilation videos including titles such as "Orlin Roasting/Fighting Nick Again for 8 minutes staight" or "Nick and Orlin throwing food at each other."
The couple has repeatedly posted about their wedding and relationship.
The two have made multiple videos about their wedding. The actual wedding day took place at a courthouse in 2017 and the couple later indulged in a meal at Chick-Fil-A. They brought their viewers along the way and then made a mukbang video of them eating wedding cake.
They mention in the Chick-Fil-A video that they would want to have a formal wedding with a "five-course" meal, "someday" but they seemingly never got around to it, besides posting multiple mukbang videos with the title "Our Wedding Day."
Concerns grew after he was seen in a Walmart using a scooter to shop.
Concerns over Perry's health continued to grow after he published a video of himself shopping at Walmart using a scooter.
Many made comments about his health and how it worried them.
In November 2020, Perry announced he was leaving YouTube. But he's continued to make videos.
Perry took to Instagram to announce his departure from YouTube to focus on his health and his relationship with Home.
Perry also mentioned that he has now reached 320 pounds and that it's "nothing to be laughing about anymore." He continued to say that he needs to work on his relationship off-camera. "Yesterday's video was the last one and I meant it," he said.
—Def Noodles (@defnoodles) November 22, 2020
He didn't stick to that promise.
In September 2021, Perry claimed that he had broken three ribs
In September 2021, Perry posted a video titled "I went to the Hospital. I'm scared" where he claimed that he is in extreme pain on his side. In a follow-up video, "My diagnosis has arrived," he said that he had broken three ribs on his left side and that he was taking steroids and other medications.
Perry told Insider in an email that he broke his ribs after having months of "excessive, forceful coughing."
Over the next week, Perry posted six mukbang videos of him eating in bed, each with the same title: "My New Diet As a Disabled Person."
Perry publicly feuded with YouTuber Charles White Jr over comments about his health.
On September 26, 2021, Perry uploaded a video titled "My new diet as a disabled person,"
In it, he described himself as "disabled," due to his rib injury, and told viewers, "It's your fault that I'm over here starving in my bed."
On September 29, YouTuber Charles White Jr, who has 10.5 million subscribers, posted a video titled, "This YouTuber is slowly killing himself for views," where he said Perry is "well aware that he is throwing away his health, his wellbeing, his happiness for the sake of some YouTube views because his audience continues to eat it up."
According to Dexerto, the video received 4 million views in a single day. Many comments under the video expressed concern for Perry.
The next day, Perry responded to White in a video on his second channel, saying he had received "tens of thousands" of hateful remarks about his weight and lifestyle as a result of White's video. Perry insisted that White's concern about his health was unfounded and that he is an "extra healthy" person because he regularly takes vitamins.
White addressed Perry's remarks in a subsequent video, where he said Perry was "capitalizing off of drama for clicks."
Perry said he paid another visit to the hospital in April 2022, sparking fresh concerns about his health.
On April 4, Perry posted a mukbang video titled, "I might have cancer," in which he talked about feeling pain in his testicular area. Commenters under the video suggested Perry should stop filming mukbangs.
On April 6, Perry uploaded another video titled, "I'm at the hospital," in which he said he was going to ask a doctor about the pain, and also said he was experiencing blurry vision and pain in his lower abdomen.
Towards the end of the video, Perry said the doctors were not able to give him conclusive answers about what was causing the pain, and decided they needed to run more tests. Perry has not shared further updates about his health since this video was posted and did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
Perry and Home's seemingly tumultuous relationship continues to feature in his videos.
On May 10, Perry posted a mukbang video titled, "We broke up," with his husband Home.
At the beginning of the video, the couple appeared to be in the middle of an argument. Home was standing behind the camera and yelling, "You literally ruined my life, you ruined my body, you made me a miserable, sad, depressed person because you're so mean. You're so controlling."
Perry replied, "You may as well sit down, this is great content," before turning the camera towards Home, who appeared to be crying.
Several commenters appeared to suggest they did not think the purported break-up would be permanent.
Over the past years, Perry and Orlin have made posted multiple videos saying they've broken up, but have continued filming content together.
Many fans believe the couple have broken up after six years together.
On July 6, an account appearing to belong to Home posted a statement on Instagram saying the pair had broken up. The bio on the account says, "Orlin's official account," and "Single," but the account is not verified by Instagram as belonging to Home.
The statement on the account read: "Although my beloved husband and I have been together for 6 years, we have made a difficult decision to part ways."
It also said Home would no longer be involved in Perry's mukbang videos.
A subsequent Instagram post on the same account posted July 12 said that Perry is taking a break from social media to address "personal issues."
Home and Perry have not appeared in a Mukbang video on either person's YouTube channel since late May. Perry, who typically posts weekly mukbang videos, has not uplaoded a video on YouTube or TikTok since late June.
In the comments section under the pair's YouTube videos, fans have continued to speculate about whether the pair are really broken up and whether this could be a permanent split.
A YouTuber said he paid Perry to live with him for five days and take part in a mukbang video.
In November 2022, Perry appeared in a series of collaboration videos with YouTuber Caleb Phelps on his channel @oompaville which has over 3.9 million subscribers.
In a video posted on November 8, Phelps said he paid Perry "a lot of money" to stay with him for five days, as he wanted to find out if Perry's online persona was "real."
Their first video together, a 49-minute upload, has over 5 million views and features a sit-down interview with Perry where they discuss his health and his relationship with Orlin.
In total, Phelps posted three videos featuring Perry, including a mukbang challenge video with over 3.7 million views, where Phelps offers Perry a cash incentive of $1,100 to finish a large dish of noodles in 15 minutes, which he completed.
While some comments described the collaboration as "wholesome" and "hilarious" others expressed concern that Perry undertook the challenge, with one user commenting, "I wish Nik would worry more about his health than views."
Perry responded to a political commentator who expressed concerns that he was 'dying for views' by posting mukbang videos
On January 22, conservative political commentator and activist Candace Owens discussed Perry's content in an episode of her podcast, in a clip that was titled, "Gluttonous YouTuber Is Literally Dying for Clicks."
Owens described Perry's content as "binge eating in front of the cameras," and suggested that the YouTuber was motivated by gaining views, putting his physical and mental health at risk as a result.
She referenced a now-deleted video where Perry discussed his mental wellbeing and desire to quit vlogging, as well as the fact he wears a breathing apparatus in his videos — something that Perry has previously said he does to prevent snoring and coughing after breaking his ribs— as evidence of these claims.
"He's doing this because he's getting attention, he's getting clicks, but he's also becoming depressed in front of the world. He's essentially killing himself on camera slowly," she said.
On January 28, Perry posted a mukbang video in which he watched Owen's podcast while eating food, filming his response to her comments.
Despite previous comments about health concerns that Perry made in April, the YouTuber now said he is "perfectly healthy," adding, "I'm not gluttonous. I barely eat that much."
The YouTuber also said he is not depressed, and that he felt Owens' comments about his mental health were "degrading."
"What if that really triggered me? Luckily I don't have depression, but I can imagine anyone else being on the receiving end of a video like this and they probably would feel so bad," he said.
Perry and Owens did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here.
Perry said he lost 89 pounds in a mukbang video, and viewers encouraged him to stay positive.
Following ongoing concerns from fans about Perry's health, the YouTuber said that he had lost 89 pounds, in a mukbang video posted March 23.
Perry did not state how long it took him to shed the weight, but said he achieved results by eating a diet of fried rice and potatoes.
Commenters under his YouTube video said they could see a visible difference in his appearance, in comparison to his previous videos, and that they were happy to see him appearing to prioritize his health, as the YouTuber could be seen eating Takis chips with a vegan, cholesterol-free dip, which some people noted seemed like a difference from previous videos where he typically ate foods that appeared to be high in cholesterol and fat.
On April 24, Perry posted a pizza mukbang video, where he said that he had still maintained his 89-pound weight loss through exercise such as going on walks.
Perry also mentioned that he does not tend to count calories as part of his diet.
"I don't like to preach because I think everyone deserves to do what they want, and I think there's value to a lot of different things," he said, going on to explain that refraining from counting calories was his personal preference as he did not want to have to keep a record of every piece of food he ate throughout the day.
On April 29, Perry posted a short video on TikTok, where he appeared to be sobbing. In the caption under the post, the YouTuber said he gained 30 pounds back and currently weighed 352.8 pounds.
Commenters told Perry not to be too discouraged and to keep trying to eat healthily and do exercise.
Read the original article on Insider