“Two steps ahead… I am always two steps ahead.”
One line, one reveal, and the entire internet stopped to catch its breath.

A year ago, the world witnessed one of the most unexpected twists in YouTube history.

The man once mocked as the chaotic villain of mukbang culture suddenly reappeared—not as the caricature we thought we knew, but as someone shockingly transformed.

His weight loss, his long-game deception, and his carefully orchestrated disappearance all converged into a revelation that left millions speechless.

But behind the applause lies a deeper, more complicated story—one that raises questions about performance, responsibility, and redemption.

For years, Nikocado Avocado was one of YouTube’s most polarizing figures—a chaotic cyclone of fast food, tears, drama, and outrageous behavior.

He was loud, messy, unpredictable, and, to many, the perfect example of an influencer spiraling out of control for clicks.

But exactly one year ago, he flipped the script so dramatically that the entire internet had to sit down and process what it had just witnessed.

On September 7, 2024, Nick posted a video titled “Two Steps Ahead,” and within seconds, everything people thought they knew about him evaporated.

The exaggerated persona, the emotional meltdowns, the ever-expanding weight… all replaced by a version of Nick no one expected to see again: calm, sharp, composed—and over 250 pounds lighter.

His transformation didn’t just shock viewers.

It rewired their perception of him.

MoistCr1TiKaL summed up the internet’s reaction perfectly:
“This is this generation’s ‘I am your father.

’ It’s one of the most stunning reveals I’ve ever witnessed.”
But the truth behind that reveal is even more fascinating—and far more calculated—than anyone realized at the time.

Back in 2014, Nick Perry wasn’t a mukbanger, a meme, or an internet villain.

He was a soft-spoken vegan violinist—talented, disciplined, and earnest.

His early videos showcased plant-based meals and classical performances.

But by 2016, Nick announced he was quitting veganism.

He cited health problems and claimed the vegan community had become toxic and extremist.

Once he abandoned veganism, his channel took a dramatic turn.

Mukbangs went from balanced meals to mountains of fast food.

His body grew; so did his theatrics.

The once-soft-spoken performer became a caricature: screaming, crying, fighting, binge-eating, and spiraling on camera.

People hated him.

People loved him.

But above all—people watched him.

Millions did.

Soon, Nick found himself typecast in a role he’d unintentionally created:
the over-the-top, self-destructive mukbang villain of YouTube.

Then everything changed.

In September 2024, Nick unveiled his transformation in a video that now has over 50 million views.

The internet watched in disbelief as he revealed:
He had secretly lost 250 lbs

He had been on an 800+ day diet

He had pre-recorded two years of content to hide his progress

His chaotic persona was an intentional character

He had used theater training and physical transformation as part of a long-term artistic vision

He even mocked the audience for believing his character:
“You are the ants.”
Suddenly, what seemed like a tragic downward spiral looked more like a carefully orchestrated performance.

And the internet applauded.

Even some of his harshest critics admitted he had pulled off one of YouTube’s greatest plot twists ever.

After the reveal, viewers started noticing old videos where Nick—still deep in the “character”—had subtly foreshadowed his transformation.

Clips surfaced of him breaking character, saying:
“I will get healthy. I will do a transformation.”
These seeds suddenly made sense.

Nick had been planning everything for years.

And then came the surgeries.

Between January and March 2025:
Facial skin removal

A full 360° body lift (removing 10+ lbs of loose skin)

Torso and thigh lifts

These surgeries proved that Nick was not just losing weight—he was committed to rebuilding his body entirely.

But while his health improved, his YouTube presence began to fade.

Uploads dropped to once per month… then once every two months.

With his backlog gone and major surgeries limiting his movement, Nick no longer had the stamina—or desire—to continue the Nicocado character.

His fan meet-and-greet tour was canceled after extremely low ticket sales—some venues sold as few as six seats.

It was clear the public was interested in the transformation, not the man behind it.

One of Nick’s most recent videos tackled the controversy that nearly destroyed his reputation in 2019: the Stephanie Soo incident.

Stephanie accused Nick of:
Manipulation

Pressure to expose private trauma

Emotional coercion during filming

Nick responded back then, but the internet didn’t believe him.

His reputation sank.

Now, with his public image the best it had ever been, he revisited the drama with a calmer, more reflective tone.

He argued that:
Stephanie exaggerated their closeness

Her video was heavily edited to villainize him

Some of her emotional moments seemed “performed”

She weaponized audience sympathy

He made mistakes but never intended harm

He even admitted fault:
“I was unprofessional. I was wrong. And I genuinely apologize.”
To many people’s surprise… his audience accepted it.

Many even took his side.

Stephanie Soo has not responded—and likely never will.

Not everyone is convinced.

Some argue that Nick’s past behavior—even if “a character”—was harmful:
Mocking diabetes

Faking heart attacks

Toxic, borderline abusive interactions with Orlin

Encouraging unhealthy relationships with food

Emotional manipulation for views

They believe performance does not excuse influence—and that a redemption arc requires accountability beyond apology.

But others see something different:
A man who played a role, milked it for millions, then shed it to reclaim his life and health.

To them, this is YouTube’s first true villain-to-hero redemption arc.

Most signs suggest yes.

Nick is: Wealthy, wealthy, emotionally exhausted from his former persona, no longer benefiting from the mukbang lifestyle, struggling to recapture attention outside the transformation storyline, addressing his biggest controversies (usually a sign of wrapping things up)

His most loyal fans believe he’s preparing to retire gracefully, having completed his “greatest performance.”
Whether he deserves forgiveness or not, whether the character was ethical or harmful, one truth is undeniable:
Nikocado Avocado pulled off something no one thought possible.

He rewrote his story.

And in the end, perhaps that’s the most human thing of all.