Myka Stauffer and her husband, James, captured the public’s attention seven years ago when they adopted Huxley, a Chinese boy with autism. However, their narrative took a controversial turn three years later when they made the decision to rehome him due to challenges in meeting his special needs. This choice ignited significant backlash and led to intense scrutiny of their actions.
In June of this year, the Stauffers released a 139-minute documentary titled “An Update on Our Family,” which revisits the events surrounding Huxley’s adoption and subsequent rehoming, drawing renewed attention to the situation. The documentary premiered on June 6 at the Tribeca Film Festival in Lower Manhattan. According to the festival’s website, Myka and James are described as emblematic of the 21st-century American Dream, showcasing their happy marriage and thriving YouTube empire. Still, their decision to rehome Huxley has resulted in widespread public outrage and scrutiny.
Living in Ohio, the Stauffers have four biological children and share parenting tips and lifestyle content on Myka’s YouTube channel. According to People Magazine, they traveled to China in October 2017 to adopt Huxley, sharing an emotional international adoption story that resonated with viewers and led to substantial viewership and advertising partnerships.
After viewers noticed Huxley’s absence from their videos, the couple released a statement explaining their decision. “We really love Huxley, but after various assessments from medical professionals, we made the best decision for him,” they stated, emphasizing that Huxley’s new adoptive mother was well-equipped to cater to his needs.
Though the Stauffers’ YouTube channel has since been taken down, many of their past videos remain accessible on the platform, including one from May 2020 where James addressed the complexities of international adoption, saying, “There are many undisclosed aspects of a child’s background and identity.”
James noted that after bringing Huxley home, they faced several special needs that they hadn’t initially anticipated. He shared that medical experts advised them to find another family capable of meeting Huxley’s “stringent needs.”
“We never wanted to be in this situation,” James expressed. “We always tried to meet his needs and help him as much as possible. We truly love him.” Myka added, “We wholeheartedly loved Huxley.”
While the Stauffers were subjected to an investigation regarding their decision to rehome Huxley, they ultimately faced no charges or prosecution.
