Introduction
Jesser is a popular YouTuber with over 5 million subscribers on his channel Jesser (source). He is known for his basketball videos, challenge videos, and vlogs. Jesser has a dog named Humphrey that frequently appears in his videos. Humphrey is a brown and white French bulldog that Jesser adopted in 2018.
Humphrey quickly became a fan favorite on Jesser’s channel due to his cute and energetic personality. He is often featured going on adventures, playing with other dogs, and interrupting Jesser’s videos. Jesser’s fans love Humphrey’s silly antics and he has become somewhat of a mascot for Jesser’s channel.
About Humphrey
Humphrey was a Golden Retriever that Jesser adopted in 2016 when the dog was just 8 weeks old. According to Jesser’s Instagram post, Humphrey was a purebred Golden Retriever puppy.
Golden Retrievers are known for being friendly, intelligent, and eager-to-please family dogs. They have a reputation for being gentle and loving companions. At the time of his passing in 2022, Humphrey was 6 years old, which is middle-aged for a Golden Retriever. The average lifespan of a Golden Retriever is 10-12 years.
By all accounts, Humphrey lived up to the breed’s stereotype and was a good-natured, playful dog. Jesser frequently featured Humphrey in his YouTube videos and vlogs, showing off his silly antics and bonded relationship with Jesser. It was clear that Humphrey had a sweet personality that endeared him to Jesser’s fans.
Humphrey’s Popularity
Humphrey quickly became a fan favorite and gained immense popularity after being introduced on Jesser’s social media channels. Fans were immediately drawn to Humphrey’s adorable looks and playful, energetic personality. As soon as Jesser began posting photos and videos with Humphrey, they went viral, garnering millions of likes and comments.
Many fans cite Humphrey as their favorite part of Jesser’s content, and he developed his own loyal fanbase. His Instagram account, @humphreythegoat, grew to over 36,000 followers, with fans eagerly awaiting the latest cute photos and videos showcasing Humphrey’s charming antics. According to one fan on Instagram, “Humphrey is the absolute cutest! His videos always make me smile.”
When Jesser posted heartfelt tributes to Humphrey after his rumored passing, fans flooded the comments section with their condolences, stories of Humphrey brightening their days, and mournful messages about how much he meant to them. The sheer volume of tributes and outpouring of sympathy highlighted just how beloved Humphrey had become.
Rumors of Humphrey’s Death
Rumors of Humphrey’s death first started circulating in early June 2023 when fans noticed Jesser had not posted any recent photos or videos with Humphrey. According to this article, Jesser had posted a photo with Humphrey in May, but after that Humphrey was strangely absent from his social media.
This led to speculation among fans that something had happened to Humphrey. Some fans started posting questions on Jesser’s Instagram and YouTube asking about Humphrey’s whereabouts. Others took to Twitter and Reddit to discuss the possibilities.
The rumors really took off when one fan posted on Reddit claiming they had inside information that Humphrey had died. Although unconfirmed, this post gained a lot of traction and attention. Many fans reacted with sadness and concern, sending prayers and well wishes to Jesser and his family.
Over the next few days more fans asked Jesser directly if the rumors were true. However, Jesser did not address the speculation right away, which only fueled the rumors further. Fans now anxiously awaited confirmation either way from Jesser himself.
Jesser’s Response
Jesser has directly addressed the rumors of Humphrey’s passing on several platforms. On his YouTube channel, Jesser posted a video titled “RIP Humphrey” where he clarified that the rumors were false and Humphrey is still alive and well [1]. Jesser explained that the death rumors started after he posted a photo of Humphrey on Twitter and said “RIP my boy” as a joke. However, many people thought he was being serious [2].
To put the rumors to rest, Jesser posted a follow up tweet saying “Wow I cannot believe how many people think Humphrey died from my last tweet. Don’t worry he’s still kicking and enjoying his golden years!” [1]. He wanted to ease the concerns of his fans and make it clear the beloved dog is still alive.
Humphrey Today
Despite the rumors of Humphrey’s passing, he is alive and well today. Jesse recently posted an update on Humphrey on his Instagram account on August 30, 2022, showing Humphrey happily playing in a kiddie pool (https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch68uOXOfze/?hl=en). The video shows Humphrey energetic and cheerful, splashing around in the water without a care in the world.
Jesse frequently posts photos and videos of Humphrey on his Instagram account, providing his fans regular glimpses into Humphrey’s happy life. Recent posts over the last few months show Humphrey playing fetch, going on walks, napping, and getting belly rubs from Jesse.
It’s clear from the ample social media documentation that Humphrey is alive and well, bringing joy to Jesse and continuing to charm fans with his lovable personality. While rumors may have spread about his passing, Humphrey remains a vibrant part of Jesse’s life today.
Lessons from the Rumors
The spread of misinformation and fake news online can have profound consequences, as we saw with the false rumors about Humphrey’s death. A recent systematic review by the World Health Organization found that the rapid spread of misinformation negatively impacts people’s health behaviors (WHO, 2022). The review analyzed numerous studies on fake news, misinformation, and “infodemics” and concluded they undermine public health.
Another study published in Frontiers in Psychology (Rocha et al., 2021) looked at the psychological impact of fake news on social media. Through surveys across multiple studies, they found exposure to misinformation led to increased anxiety, psychological distress, and a lack of trust. This demonstrates the potential for viral rumors, even about pets, to negatively affect people’s mental health.
The Humphrey incident serves as an important reminder to verify information from reliable sources before sharing unconfirmed reports online. It also shows how quickly falsehoods can spread on social media and the difficulty correcting them once widespread. As content creators and pet owners, we must be vigilant about fact-checking to avoid contributing to the infodemic of misinformation online.
Advice for Pet Owners
Pet owners have an important responsibility to protect the health and wellbeing of their furry companions. Here are some tips for keeping your pets safe, healthy, and happy:
Get regular vet checkups. Annual exams allow vets to catch any emerging health issues early (1). Stay current on all vaccinations to protect against dangerous diseases (2).
Spay/neuter your pet. This prevents unwanted litters and reduces the risk of some cancers. Neuter male dogs to avoid roaming and aggression issues (3).
Give proper nutrition. Feed high-quality food appropriate for your pet’s age, breed, and activity level. Check with your vet for recommendations. Avoid overfeeding treats and table scraps (1).
Flea/tick prevention is essential. Use monthly preventatives to stop infestations before they start. Ticks can transmit dangerous diseases (2). Groom your pet frequently to check for any signs of fleas or ticks (3).
Don’t leave pets unattended outdoors. Supervise time outside to prevent escapes or harmful encounters with wildlife. Use leashes when walking pets (1). Make sure your yard is securely fenced (2). Bring pets indoors during extreme weather (3).
Give your pet plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. A tired, well-exercised pet is a happy, healthy pet (1). Provide interactive toys to prevent boredom and destructive behaviors (2).
The Future for Jesser and Humphrey
Now that the rumors about Humphrey’s death have been put to rest, Jesser and his beloved dog can look forward to the future. Jesser’s YouTube channel continues to grow in popularity, recently surpassing 2 million subscribers. With his fun, basketball-themed content, Jesser has built a strong community of loyal fans.
As for Humphrey, he seems perfectly happy and healthy, frequently appearing in Jesser’s videos. Jesser takes excellent care of Humphrey, making sure he lives a comfortable, stimulating life. It’s clear these two share a special bond that will likely continue for years to come.
While Jesser’s channel may evolve over time, expect Humphrey to remain a star. Jesser has mentioned interest in creating pet-focused content that spotlights Humphrey’s charming personality. He wants to showcase Humphrey’s training regimen and unique tricks that delight fans.
No matter what the future holds, Jesser and Humphrey will face it together. Their loving friendship has touched the hearts of millions of viewers. Here’s wishing them both the very best in the years ahead!
Conclusion
In summary, while rumors circulated in 2022 that Jesser’s beloved dog Humphrey had died, these turned out to be false. Jesser took to social media to assure fans that Humphrey is alive and well. The rumors served as a reminder to always verify information before sharing, especially related to pets and public figures. For Jesser, Humphrey remains a cherished companion and popular fixture on his YouTube channel. While pets inevitably have shorter lifespans than humans, it appears Humphrey still has many years ahead as Jesser’s furry friend.