They invited millions into their family life. Then one child vanished from the videos.

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 adopted Huxley from China in 2017, and he was quickly integrated into the content on their YouTube channel, The Stauffer Life.

The couple were already parents to four children — Kova, Jaka, Radley and Onyx — when they adopted two-year-old Huxley. They had a seemingly picture-perfect family.

But in 2020 it all came crashing down, and Myka and James quickly became one of the most hated couples on the internet.

Fans noticed Huxley appeared to have dropped out of filmed family content. Having once been at the centre of almost every photo and video, his absence was clear.

Facing mounting pressure to explain his disappearance, Myka and James released a video.

Just three years after adopting Huxley, Myka and James announced that they had 'rehomed' him 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.

So what happened to Huxley and where are Myka and James now? Read on for all the information on this controversial social media family.

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.

In a since-deleted social media comment, Myka claimed the family had experienced "multiple scary things" inside their home that affected their other children.

"If these events happened with one of my biological kids, after all the help and after the behaviours we witnessed, sadly we would have no other choice than to seek help and get their needs met," she wrote.

The remark drew criticism, with many pointing out that she likely would not have made the same decision if it involved one of her biological children.

"Do I feel like a failure as a mum? Like, 500 pe rcent," Myka explained. "The last couple months have been like the hardest thing I could have ever imagined... after pouring our guts and our heart into this little boy."

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 Huxley now?

When the story of Huxley's "re-homing" went viral in 2020, it quickly caught the attention of authorities.

At the time, the Delaware County Sheriff's Office confirmed to BuzzFeed News that multiple agencies were involved in reviewing the process. They stressed that everything appeared to be handled appropriately and within the law.

The Stauffers' legal team echoed this, telling PEOPLE in May 2020 that the decision had been made in Huxley's best interests.

"In coming to know our clients, we know they are a loving family and very caring parents that would do anything for their children," lawyers Thomas Taneff and Taylor Sayers said.

Since then, very little has been made public about Huxley's life. In a statement posted to Instagram in June 2020, Myka Stauffer confirmed that her son had been placed with another family and given a new name.

She added that he was "thriving" in his new environment, with adoptive parents who were better equipped to support his needs.

"He is thriving, he is happy, he is doing really well, and his new mommy has medical professional training, and it is a very good fit," she said.

Today, Huxley's identity remains protected, and he only appears in old YouTube footage included in An Update on Our Family—a three-part documentary series streaming on BINGE.

The series explores the rise and fall of the Stauffers' YouTube empire, with interviews and clips that shed light on the controversy that once dominated headlines.

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.