Meet Jack Merridew
When our eyes locked and I saw his piercing stare, I knew then that there was something more to him. We were sitting in the dugout at Jack’s high school, which was like a small college campus, talking about his teenage years when I realized that he saw the world differently than most. Jack Merridew was a personality, but the man I was sitting with was a person.
Funny, attractive, personable, straightforward, and always willing to push the limits. This is the Jack Merridew most of you have come to know and love. I am going to tell you about a slightly introverted, intellectual, caring, hopeless romantic, and compassionate person who anyone would be lucky to call a friend.
Jack grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania. You might expect that he faced challenges coming out or that perhaps he was badly bullied, but neither of those was the case. Jack’s family easily accepted the news and he was smart enough to only associate with people who would stick by him regardless of his sexuality. While coming out was relatively painless, Jack would soon embark on a journey that would force him to question what he believed and what he wanted most in life.
“Why did you start YouTube?” That would seem to be an appropriate question to ask a YouTuber, but in all the time I have spent with Jack I have never asked him that question and don’t intend to. I didn’t ask him that for one simple reason. I knew that he, like most influencers, didn’t have one specific reason. He could give me the usual canned response, but why force him to do that when who he is was far more important and intriguing.
YouTubers are often accused of being fake. Those accusations are often partially correct, but Jack Merridew is one of the most genuine people I have ever met. From our very first Skype meeting to our multi-hour conversations, I have never felt that Jack was trying to convince me he was someone other than the person I saw before me.
Jack Merridew the personality is part of who Jack is, but it is a small part. For those of you who are fans of Jack’s channel or if you follow him on social media then you would know that his content is very often sexual. More than a few people frown upon this, YouTube being one of them. However, Jack knows that it’s important to talk about sex openly. He is silly on camera and easy on the eyes. Those are the things that allow him to break down walls.
Despite his slim and muscular build, Jack enjoys eating. From Red Lobster and The Pub to Wendy’s and McDonald's, he likes to keep things interesting when it comes to food. While being served a seafood feast, Jack told me that he, of course, wants to help people with his channel, but that’s not his sole reason for being on YouTube. He enjoys entertaining people and having meaningful conversations.
“I want to listen to your stories as long as you want to listen to mine…a good dialogue is what matters.” Jack shared that with me on our way to a local diner for dessert (really just a milkshake for Jack since he is bad about finishing his meals). It was at this moment I began to understand one of Jack’s core values: human connections.
Jack’s Relationships (Romantic & Otherwise)
The connections he seeks must be authentic. Anything less is simply a waste of time. “Less emotion is more emotion.” Jack has a soft side. It’s not hidden, but you might miss it if you aren’t paying attention. He deeply cares about his friends and family. When Jack finds the right man, there is no doubt that he will climb the highest mountain and cross the longest valley to be a good partner.
We have talked extensively about his love life and, to date, Jack has never been in love. He has loved many people and cared for them greatly, however, he is yet to find someone that he is inseparable from. Maybe it’s a problem with him? That’s what Jack thought. As our dialogue continued to develop, I know he began to realize that he hasn’t found the right person.
Who is the right person for Jack Merridew? The guy must be smart and willing to listen. Strong but gentle. Wise yet humble. Risky while safe. And, perhaps most importantly, the man must love him unconditionally. Sound like a fairy tale? Jack is a huge fan of Disney so it shouldn’t surprise you.
I like to think that I can read people well, especially if they are willing to be honest with me. Despite Jacks honesty and genuine personality, he’s not the open book you might expect. He told me, “I am the type of person that downplays everything.” Jack needs someone who can break down his walls. Don’t get me wrong, I am not suggesting that Jack has some grotesquely dark past, but I do think Jack is learning and questioning. That is something we could all afford to do more frequently.
Put simply, Jack wants people to be real. To love, to laugh, and for people to genuinely care about him. If you’re fake, or if you’re trying to be someone you are not, Jack will know. He is easy to get along with and if you are ever fortunate enough to meet Jack, just be yourself. He will respect you for that.
A Day in the Life
What does a YouTuber do all day? Far be it for me to presume that they all spend their time the same way, but I can tell you that Jack certainly has his own special recipe.
The clock on Jack’s phone says its four. That probably means he should get out of bed and get started for the day. Just to be clear, the time is four in the afternoon. Jack is a creature of the night. He prefers to work when the rest of the world has given up on the day and to relax when most of us are fast asleep.
Despite what you might think, a lot of planning goes into Jack’s videos. After all, he does have a degree from Ithaca College in screenwriting. Many of Jack’s videos are conceived and written weeks, if not months, in advance. His content lineup is strategic. It is smart. Jack respects that YouTube is a business and his livelihood.
It is clear that Jack also feels an obligation to his audience. As you already know, Jack wants connections, so it’s important to him that his videos are engaging and that his followers are commenting. What do you think about Jack’s latest video? Good or bad, he wants to know.
After Jack’s morning (performed in the afternoon) routine – which includes hair, makeup, etc. – he gets some food and starts thinking about his video for the week. If it’s after Friday, then chances are he is checking his video’s progress, responding to comments, or posting on social media. Often, during the week, Jack will take calls from sponsors or regarding other business opportunities. Jack handles all of this himself. He worked hard and persevered over many years to build his channel and he’s not eager to risk allowing someone else to mess it up.
When you build something from scratch, it is hard to let any part of it go. I certainly can appreciate Jack’s position on this having brought investors into my company. That led us to debate the pros and cons of outside help and it became clear to me that Jack has been thinking a lot about his future as a YouTuber. What does he want to accomplish, should he keep building an audience, does he want to stay in front of the camera or would he rather produce?
Where is Jack Headed?
Jack has a special talent for being on camera. If you’re one of his subscribers, you already know that. What you might not know is that he’s not bad at podcasting. I had a conversation with Jack about the future of the LGBT+ community which you can listen to here on TrueChat.
In addition to his potential future as a podcaster, Jack has considered modeling, acting, writing, and other creative pursuits. What’s he leaning toward? You will be relieved to know that for now, his focus is still on YouTube. “I don’t know. I want to explore other options, but I like what I do on YouTube.” Jack has been a creator on YouTube for over four years and he’s ready to consider additional pursuits, but he’s not in a rush.
Jack lives in Los Angeles and visits his hometown in Pennsylvania each year. When he’s back to visit his family, it is an opportunity for him to “escape” the craziness of LA and to think about what’s next. Whatever path Jack decides to pursue there is no doubt he will use his skill and charm to ensure its success.
Who is Jack Merridew?
What I have shown you here is my perception of Jack after having spent a little more than 25 hours in focused conversation with him, which is similar to the average person getting to know someone over six months (one full hour of conversation per week). While I know him better than most people, there are certainly some who know him better than I do.
Over time I am sure Jack will change and grow like all of us. However, at his core, I believe he will be the same Jack I have shown you here.
Jack Merridew is more than meets the eye. On-camera, he’s entertaining and easy to watch. Off-camera, he’s a dynamic individual with a great personality who you are sure to enjoy every minute with. It’s appropriate that Jack is the personality I am writing about in Pride month because the world would be a better place if more people loved as Jack Merridew does.