These influencers quietly disappeared after 'rehoming' their adopted son. Here's what they did next.

If you cast your mind back to 2020, you may remember the Stauffer family.

Myka Stauffer was an Ohio-based YouTuber best known for her family vlogs with her husband, James, and their five children, including their adopted son, Huxley.

Myka and James adoped Huxley in 2017, and was quickly integrated into the content on their YouTube channel, The Stauffer Life.

But in 2020, it all came crashing down, and Myka and James — a then-popular family vlogging couple — quickly became one of the most hated couples on the internet. Just three years after adopting Huxley, Myka and James announced that they had 'rehomed' Huxley to another family in a now-infamous video titled 'An update on our family'.

Watch the trailer for the new documentary, An Update On Our Family. Article continues after video.

Why did Myka and James Stauffer rehome their adopted son?

According to the couple, the full extent of Huxley's disabilities (he was diagnosed with autism and a sensory processing disorder), had not been adequately disclosed at the time of the adoption. After adopting him and documenting his conditions in their vlogs, Myka and James said that they had struggled to manage the severity of his disabilities.

"Once Huxley came home, there [were] a lot more special needs that we weren't aware of, and that we were not told," James said in the video.

Huxley featured in many of their YouTube videos. Image: YouTube/TheStaufferFamily.

"We've never wanted to be in this position. And we've been trying to get his needs met and help him out as much as possible... we truly love him," he added.

The video was met with an immediate and intense wave of backlash, as followers criticised the couple and their decision to "rehome" their adopted son.

Some accused the couple of treating their son like a "pet", while others accused them of monetising their adoption journey and using Huxley and his struggles for content, views and financial gain.

How did Myka and James Stauffer respond to the backlash?

Myka and James copped massive backlash following their video. Image: Instagram/mykastauffer.

In response to the intense criticism, Myka made one final Instagram post apologising for "the uproar" that her and James' had made, adding that she took "full responsibility for all of the hurt" that she had caused.

"I'm sorry for letting down so many women that looked up to me as a mother," Myka said. She also apologised for "being so naive" about the adoption process, writing, "I was not selective or fully equipped or prepared".

She continued, "I can't say I wish this never happened because I'm still so glad Huxley is here and getting all the help he needs. I also know that even though he is happier in his new home and doing better, that he still experienced trauma and I'm sorry. No adoptee deserves any more trauma. I wanted to help so bad I was willing to bring home any child that needed me. For this I was naive, foolish and arrogant."

This remains Myka's last Instagram post to date.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Myka Stauffer (@mykastauffer)

Where is Myka Stauffer now?

Following the 2020 controversy, Myka and James have largely withdrawn from the spotlight. Both Myka's personal YouTube channel and the family's shared channel, The Stauffer Life have been taken down. However, James is still active with his own channel, Stauffer Garage, which is dedicated to car flipping.

Myka, it seems, has stayed away from social media for nearly five years. According to James' Instagram, the couple still lives in Columbus, Ohio.

Feature Image: Instagram/mykastauffer.