Ray William Johnson was one of the early YouTube pioneers who promoted the platform to wider audiences through his show “Equals 3.” The show reviewed viral videos much on a small budget and millions of viewers tuned in to watch Ray’s reaction.
What Happened to Him?
Some people say that he burnt out, others say that he was depressed and just couldn’t make videos anymore. But none of these are true. Ray William Johnson still makes videos to this day. You can find him on his YouTube channel “Ray,” and he also frequently posts videos on Facebook. It’s just that the type of content is completely different to what “Equals 3” used to be.
Boredom also played a part. “Equals 3” had become a boring routine to him, like a day job behind a desk with little room for growth. There were would be other obstacles that contributed to his disillusionment and eventual retirement from the show.
Another big factor was the court case “Equals 3 vs Jukin Media.” It appeared that Equals 3 had used video clips belonging to Jukin Media without permission. According to foxrothschild.com, a legal-aid website: “Equals Three was receiving numerous DMCA take down notices from Jukin. In order to stop Jukin from issuing these takedown notices, Equals Three decided to file a lawsuit.”
In the end, “Equals 3” lost the court-case and had to takedown the clips owned by Jukin Media. This court-case would go on to start the “fair play” discussion that is still rampant in YouTube today, if not worse.
The fallout from the court-case was huge. Ray William Johnson was severely affected and there was a slight dip in the quality of his content. In the back of his mind, he was constantly wondering if the videos he was using were safe.
The dip in quality created a domino-effect. With less views came less revenue, meaning all the new production equipment and crew was becoming too expensive. With money problems stacking up, dwindling views, and a high amount of stress, it’s easy to see why he stepped back from the show.
What is he Doing Now?
Ray William Johnson now enjoys working on smaller videos such as vlogs and music videos featuring his own music. His virtual music band is called “Upside Downs” and they’ve released a few albums with mixed success. The latest song “Everything is Bullshit 12” flopped and only did around 206,000 views.
Over the last year, the 42 year-old has become more active on YouTube, with recent uploads averaging over 500,000 views. He has been dating Kelly Farrell for over seven years, a ginger-haired life coach who happens to be a huge Harry Potter fan. In January 2024, Johnson took a break from uploading as he got surgery for his deviated septum.
