Line #42 WebVideo/Boogie2988


1	->''"Swastikas! And Penises!"''
2	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/boogie.jpg]]
3	[[caption-width-right:400:"What's up ladies and gentlemen? [=Boogie2988=] comin' at ya LIVE through the power of the internet!"]]
4
5	Imagine growing up with your father as a heavy drinker and smoker who worked a dead-end job at a coal mine, and your mother as [[AbusiveParents abusive]] towards you on a regular basis to the point that you are officially diagnosed with PTSD. Imagine being a target for frequent bullying.
6
7	Does that sound like the backstory of a successful [=YouTuber=] to you?
8
9	Well, that happens to be the [[DarkAndTroubledPast story]] of Stephen Williams (b. 1974), better known as [=boogie2988=], who is a Website/YouTube vlogger, comedian, armchair philosopher, and gamer who goes by the nickname "Boogie".
10
11	His most noticeable feature from first glance is his weight (526 lbs as of 2012), which has been PlayedForLaughs on a number of occasions (especially earlier in his career), but is also a [[PlayedForDrama very]] [[WeightWoe serious topic]] for him. The health issues induced by his weight have made Boogie diagnosed with anxiety and depression, and he is open about how he hates his body but at the same time is unashamed of it.
12
13	He's known for "Rambling" videos and videos where he gives his 2 cents on certain relevant topics in gaming/[=YouTube=] news, but is by far most famous due to his character Francis, an [[HairTriggerTemper easily agitated]] hardcore gamer with a comical lisp who is often recorded by his sister (played by Boogie's wife Dez), who makes him rage for one reason or another. One of Francis' rage videos was featured on ''WebVideo/EqualsThree'', which [[ColbertBump was Boogie's first claim to fame]] and set him on the road to success. In December of 2017, Boogie stated he was getting divorced from his wife. Not long thereafter he underwent life-saving weight-loss surgery and began blogging about his weight-loss surgery and the triumphs and tribulations from it. As of Fall 2019, Boogie had lost over 200 pounds.
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15	Not too long after his divorce, Boogie's internet career went on a downward spiral, best represented by his declining subscriber count on [=YouTube=]. Peaking at around 5 million in 2018, Boogie's channel now sits at just over 4 million as of December 2023, with most of his videos struggling to crack even 25 thousand views. Much of his lost reputation is attributed to his behavior when he started streaming. The loss of the filter of edited content saw Boogie tank his own nice guy image by joking about inappropriate topics and saying genuinely mean-spirited things. During this era, most of his sponsors were motivated to drop Boogie because of such behavior, which lead to financial troubles and extended periods of little or no content at all due to a lack of motivation.
16
17	In November of 2023, Mike Clum posted an in-depth documentary on Boogie's current life on [=YouTube=]. Clum was given complete access to Boogie's life for a nine month period to make the documentary. The documentary revealed even more shocking facts about Boogie, including how he's now nearly bankrupt due to spending obscene amounts of money on sugar babies and prostitutes, and his romantic relationship with a 20-year-old girl at the age of 49. The documentary was responsible for a bit of a surge in popularity for Boogie, as he was able to make several videos about it that got far more views than his typical videos, even if a good deal of the new attention is negative.
18
19	You can find his channel [[https://www.youtube.com/user/boogie2988 here]].
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22	!!This channel provides examples of:
23	* AbusiveParents: Boogie's mother was physically and emotionally abusive towards him.
24	* AlterEgoActing: Francis acknowledges Boogie's existence; evidently they share income from their [=YouTube=] channel.
25	* AtomicFBomb: Francis will let one of these off when especially angry at dying in a video game.
26	* AutoTune: Once employed in a musical remix of a video in which Boogie was discussing vandalism triggered by [=YouTube=]'s new comment section, which included the easily taken out of context "Swastikas and Penises" quote.
27	* BattleStrip: Francis does this in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuzBkP8bTwI Francis Attempts to go Super Saiyan]].
28	* BerserkButton: The beginning of every Francis Rages video follows someone pressing one of his buttons, including the following:
29	** ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'''s network issues.
30	** Calling him fat.
31	** Saying he looks like Eric Cartman from ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark''.
32	** Mentioning the "always online" requirement that was originally planned for the Platform/XboxOne.
33	** Any game that ships as broken, or whose servers crash on release day.
34	** Games and consoles that have conflicting exclusives.
35	** Digital Rights Management (DRM).
36	** A non-Francis related instance, but in the aftermath of [[Creator/TotalBiscuit John Bain's]] passing from cancer, a number of commentators and developers took the opportunity to publicly celebrate his death. Boogie, usually a peacemaking individual who just wants others to get along, went full Hulk on Twitter about the actions of these individuals.
37	** Corporate censorship, especially from Blizzard Entertainment.
38	** '''Drinking or messing with his Mountain Dew'''
39	* BigEater: Boogie, and by extension, all of the characters he plays.
40	** After his weight loss surgery, Boogie has tossed this trope by the wayside for better habits. He's currently down 200 pounds with only 100 more to go!
41	* BigNo:
42	** In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSpHVrnt7HM Francis plays QWOP Flash Game]], Francis lets off an enraged variant of this.
43	** In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0GAsm01VYc Francis' Worst Nightmare]], Francis lets out a genuinely horrified one after seeing that all of his Mountain Dew has been replaced with the diet type.
44	* BraggingThemeTune: The ''Jesse Weighs In'' series has an intro song which claims that "Jesse knows best".
45	* CatchPhrase
46	** [when playing a pre-recorded video] "What's up, ladies and gentleman of [=YouTube=], [=Boogie2988=] coming at you live through the power of the internet."
47	** As Francis:
48	*** "Sons of bitches."
49	*** "WHY DON'T YOU GO THE FUCK TO BED DAVID?"
50	** [as Jessie, after listing something] "... and what have ya."
51	** [when Signing off] "Guys, I love you very much. And I'll see you again soon."
52	* CloudCuckoolander: Boogie (and Francis) will parody this, both characters are not ashamed to act bizarre on camera.
53	* ClusterFBomb: Francis, when playing a video game he is not as skilled at, such as ''VideoGame/FlappyBird'' or ''VideoGame/{{QWOP}}''.
54	* ComicalOverreacting: Francis's reactions to losing in video games or hearing unsettling news.
55	* {{Crossover}}: Boogie joined the LetsPlay/{{Yogscast}} for their charity livestreams in 2015.
56	** Although when he had a crossover with WebVideo/McJuggerNuggets, he had a ''very slight'' personality change in the ''[[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL69088es6NZPNywMbiNF-Uhy4Fp3tnsan The Boogie Series]].''
57	* DarkAndTroubledPast: Boogie had one that is explored in detail in his "Draw My Life" video.
58	* DysfunctionalFamily: Boogie had one of these as a child.
59	* EyeScream: Boogie claims that his mother attempted to gouge his eyes out while they were sitting in a car together, and that Boogie had to jump out of a moving vehicle to escape.
60	* EveryoneHasStandards: Francis cannot ''stand'' Karens.
61	* FatSlob: Francis, as revealed in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBhUYcXuYZM&list=PLIaMOSX9DUiz_fdFIQr3mMb3_sA4qEh9e this P.O.V. video.]]
62	* HairTriggerTemper: Francis will record himself flying off the handle for relatively minor news.
63	* HeWhoMustNotBeSeen:
64	** Francis' sister (usually played by his ex-wife), who is often behind the camera when Francis is not using his webcam for vlogs.
65	** Jesse Jr.
66	* HotBlooded: Francis will get very animated when discussing video games issues that he is passionate about.
67	* IdiotBall: Francis once made a massive Creeper in ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}''... but unwisely decided to [[MadeOfExplodium make its insides entirely TNT]], so as to make it more realistic (since Creepers are natural {{Action Bomb}}s). Someone had the great (dis)pleasure of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGRAf_fAvJk igniting one of the TNT blocks]].
68	* {{Jerkass}}: Judging by Francis' interactions with his friends and family, he is difficult to please.
69	* LargeHam: Francis' over-the-top reactions to even the slightest dissatisfactions in gaming trends.
70	* MadeOfExplodium: Francis decided to fill a giant Creeper statue he made in ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' with TNT. You can probably guess [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGRAf_fAvJk what happened next.]]
71	* ManChild: Francis plays video games and collects consoles, memorabilia, and magic cards. Whose [[FuryFueledFoolishness fury fueled foolery]] or bad temper can result in childish behavior.
72	* MundaneMadeAwesome: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-CaC_43cZI "Dramatic Fat Guy Splash"]] (and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNFewwPvkkE its]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYT67u5qUPw sequels]]), [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a video of Boogie falling backwards into a pool]]. The original video is so mundanely awesome that it's become his most popular upload of all time!
73	* NoNeckChump: Boogie has jokingly stated that he doesn't have a neck.
74	** Thankfully, this trope is no longer true & is actually subverted or even averted after his weight-loss routine in 2018! Losing enough weight to show a neck.
75	* OffscreenVillainy:
76	** Francis's DM, Steve, who not only made off with his girlfriend Charlene, but cheated in their [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons DND]] sessions.
77	** Whoever hacked Francis' ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' and ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' accounts.
78	* {{Parody}}:
79	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeJ1UqnHsvU Francis Rages - Where's My Goddamned Mountain Dew?]] is a parody of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbU2Oi6a2W0 Angry Grandpa can't find his Pecan Pinwheels!]] from ''WebVideo/TheAngryGrandpa''
80	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO6GMw42Li4 Francis Says Dont Call me FAT! STOP CALLING ME FAT!]] is an obvious parody of the ''WebVideo/NormsBarStool'' viral video in which he rages about children calling him fat online.
81	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPYFJwsXcFw Francis's Video For Briona]] parodies [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6laGvKtPZYQ My Video for Briona]]
82	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuzBkP8bTwI Francis Attempts to go Super Saiyan]] is a parody of a [=YouTube=] video in which a kid attempts to go Super Saiyan.
83	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjDKtvUPrZA Francis Meal Time - Mountain Dew Stew (Epic Meal Time Parody)]]
84	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS4NT9IyC-U FRANCIS GETS PRANKED (GONE WRONG) (GONE SEXUAL) KILLING MY BEST FRIEND (IN THE HOOD)]] parodies various [=YouTube=] prank videos.
85	* OnceAnEpisode: Expect Francis to [[CameraAbuse knock the camera over]] at the end of his rage videos.
86	* PercussiveMaintenance: Francis uses ''a dumbbell'' to try to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfPevOLy72w fix a broken Nerf gun]].
87	* PreciousPuppy: Boogie got a dog, Sammy, in October of 2015, who stars in a Francis video as the new dog that David (Francis' roommate) gets for Francis to keep him company in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61x1H8V5sxk FRANCIS MEETS SAMMY THE DOG]].
88	* PrecisionFStrike: Francis will reserve these for rant videos.
89	* PoesLaw: Lampshaded by Boogie. Viewers of Boogie's videos will occasionally mistake Francis' hammy rages as genuine outbursts, not realizing that Francis is a character that Boogie plays.
90	* POVCam: A few Francis videos are shot from his point of view as he [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBhUYcXuYZM&list=PLIaMOSX9DUiz_fdFIQr3mMb3_sA4qEh9e&index=1 sits at his computer]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p8eitLYybs&list=PLIaMOSX9DUiz_fdFIQr3mMb3_sA4qEh9e&index=2 shops at Walmart]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_ZAGi7J_JA&index=3&list=PLIaMOSX9DUiz_fdFIQr3mMb3_sA4qEh9e goes to Planet Comicon 2013]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lwDFT7k-ds&index=4&list=PLIaMOSX9DUiz_fdFIQr3mMb3_sA4qEh9e goes to Vidcon 2014]], or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNTSLfg403w plays Flappy Bird]].
91	* RageQuit: Francis will not only do this when recorded playing video games, he will flip out and walk away from his own rage videos.
92	* RealLifeWritesThePlot: After Boogie and Dez got a divorce, Boogie filmed a video of Francis coming home from "fat camp" (really, finishing the recovery from his weight loss surgery) only to realize his sister [[PutOnABus had quietly moved out in the meantime]].
93	* SadClown: While he acts as Francis, his outrages can be comedic and while growing up he was regarded as funny and cool by his friends, but Boogie's past is arguably one of the most tragic due to systematic abuse from his mother and from others while growing up, multiple suicide attempts, serious health complications from his obesity, and body confidence issues. Due to his experiences, Boogie suffers from PTSD and various other disorders.
94	* SelfDeprecation: Too many examples to list; some of them [[PlayedForLaughs funny]], others [[PlayedForDrama not]].
95	* ShockinglyExpensiveBill: Francis' sister discovers that Francis spent 380 dollars on ''VideoGame/CandyCrushSaga'' in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYRcAKYYEG4 this video.]]
96	* SincerityMode: Boogie will often follow up a "Francis Rages" video with a calm and collected appraisal of a game or an issue, in which he voices his honest opinion.
97	* SirSwearsALot: Francis, of course.
98	* SitcomArchNemesis: Francis' roommate, David. It doesn't help when David is dating Francis' sister.
99	* SpeechImpediment: Francis suffers from a comically exaggerated lisp and an occasional stutter.
100	* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Jessy's name is alternately spelled "Jesse".
101	* SuddenlyShouting: When you see a video in which Francis claims that he's "not going to get mad", you know this is coming.
102	* SweetTooth: Francis has one, especially for [[TrademarkFavoriteFood Mountain Dew]].
103	* TrademarkFavoriteFood: More like "Trademark Favorite Drink" when it comes to the aforementioned Mountain Dew.
104	* TranquilFury: He took this approach when he found out ''VideoGame/StarWarsBattlefrontII2017'' had a time lock on Arcade Mode that prevented him from earning any more credits until enough time had passed.
105	-->'''Boogie''': "More credits available in 3 hours?" More credits available in 3 hours... "We're sorry. You were enjoying Arcade Mode too much, so we had to stop giving you prizes. I'm sorry... I'm sorry, were you ''enjoying'' Arcade Mode? Because you have to wait THREE HOURS to earn more credits." Are you [[PrecisionFStrike FUCKING]] SHITTING ME?
106	* UnseenCharacter:
107	** Steve, Francis's dungeon master.
108	** Francis' girlfriend (and later ex-girlfriend), Charlene.
109	** Jessy Junior, Jessy's son.
110	* TheVoiceless: Francis has a somewhat catatonic brother who has appeared in several Francis videos such as Francis' Star Wars Christmas video and his Mario Maker rage video.
111	* WhamEpisode: "Francis Gets Abandoned By His Sister" is probably the most heartbreaking Francis video, with Francis returning home from fat camp to learn that his sister left home while he was away (and forbade him from visiting or even talking talking to her again). It's a striking departure in tone from the majority of Francis videos, which usually have some humor in them.
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Context WebVideo / Boogie2988