From well known “Francis” to hated “Liar” – Sad life story of Bogie 2988
Steven Williams, better known as Boogie2988, became a YouTube star in the mid-2000s. His character, “Francis,” was loved for his funny skits and honest talks about his personal life.
Boogie talked openly about his struggles with obesity, mental health, and childhood trauma. His honesty helped him connect with millions of fans.
But behind his public success, Boogie was dealing with deeper issues, including insecurity, financial troubles, and emotional challenges that would eventually lead to his downfall.
Fame Covered Deep Struggles
While Boogie was gaining fame, he was struggling with his insecurities. He often used humor to mask his pain.
“I have two glorious meat curtains I don’t like showing to people, and people don’t like seeing it, so that’s why I’m going to die alone.”
His health was another major issue. At his heaviest, Boogie weighed over 500 pounds. He would joke about his weight and health, but it was clear he was suffering.
“When I’m supposed to be sleeping, I’m actually drowning in my own fat,” he once admitted. These kinds of statements reflected just how serious his physical and mental health problems were. Fans related to him and offered support, which he came to depend on more and more over time.
Financial Troubles Start to Take Over
While his YouTube channel was still growing, Boogie’s financial situation was getting worse. At his peak in 2018, Boogie was making $280,000 per video.
But by 2023, that number dropped significantly to just $17,000 per video. In a revealing video, Boogie shared that his monthly income had fallen to $5,742, while his monthly expenses were $7,800.
“I’ll have about $700 to live off of until the 20th when I get paid again,” he said, showing how bad things had become financially.
Part of Boogie’s financial downfall was linked to his spending habits. Between 2018 and 2021, Boogie spent over $200,000 on sex workers across the U.S.
He also took women on expensive vacations, to fancy dinners, and even to Disneyland. Boogie himself admitted, “I took women on vacations and I took them out to fancy dinners and I took them to like Disneyland.”
Desperate to maintain his lifestyle, Boogie began looking for ways to make money. This led him down a risky path that would later damage his reputation.
He needs to make money and attention
To fix his financial situation, Boogie launched his own cryptocurrency called “Faddy.” He marketed it to his fans, presenting it as a fun, meme-based project.
“I’m here to tell you the truth and the hacks to help you break free from The Matrix so you can be a Brokey like me… faddy for life,” he said in a viral statement.
However many fans and critics saw this as a potential pump-and-dump scheme. Pum-and-dump is a scam where a cryptocurrency’s value is inflated, and then the creator cashes out, leaving others with worthless coins.
Shortly after the “Faddy” coin controversy, Boogie made another shocking claim. He told his fans that he had been diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer called polycythemia vera.
“I likely potentially could have some form of cancer… Turns out I got a rare form of blood cancer,” he said, asking for their support.
Knowing his struggles with health, his fans responded with sympathy and donations. But soon, questions about the truth of his diagnosis began to surface.
It was all a fat lie
Boogie’s actions drew the attention of investigative YouTubers, especially Coffeezilla and Destiny. Coffeezilla, known for exposing scams, started looking into Boogie’s “Faddy” coin.
He found that the coin’s value dropped quickly after launch, leading many to believe it was indeed a pump-and-dump scheme.
Boogie reportedly made $10,000 from the project, which he said he spent on medical bills. However, many fans felt deceived and questioned his motives.
Destiny, a popular YouTuber who had spoken with Boogie before, dug into Boogie’s claims about having cancer. In a heated conversation, Destiny pointed out several inconsistencies in Boogie’s story.
When Boogie couldn’t provide any clear evidence of his diagnosis, the situation became even worse. Fans started losing faith in him, and Boogie’s reputation took a serious hit.
And one live video some YouTubers offered Boogie $50,000 to expose his diagnosis but he refused. It was a huge point that proved Boogie didn’t have any cancer diagnosis at all.
Fans Begin to Turn on Boogie
As more information came out, Boogie’s once-loyal fanbase began to turn against him. His audience, who had trusted and supported him for years, now started seeing him as dishonest.
Boogie has private the Faddy Coin video.
byu/R3licx inboogie2988
Boogie’s emotional breakdowns in response to the criticism only made things worse. In several live streams, Boogie broke down crying, shouting, “I have cancer, goddamn it,” while also denying that he had lied.
His emotional outbursts and fake crying were seen as manipulative, and many fans felt betrayed.
A Legacy Damaged by Scandal
After these scandals, Boogie2988’s reputation was in ruins. His fanbase, which had once adored him, turned away.
The broader YouTube community now saw him as a cautionary tale of how fame and trust can be lost through deceit.
Boogie tried to apologize and explain his actions, but the damage was already done. His road to redemption is uncertain, and the trust he once had may never return.
Boogie tattooed the word “liar” on his face, claiming it was to remind him of the mistakes he had made. “Nothing will ever make up for the bullshit I pulled. But I hope this makes some of you feel a little better,” he said.
But many people saw this as yet another attempt to gain sympathy. Some even believed Boogie was setting up for another scam.
